Homeless at Christmas : /

[surreyagain]

Can anyone help? We are a professional couple with children who have just moved to Farnham for schools and are still looking for a house to rent. We are in holiday cottages at the moment but have no idea where we will be staying for the two weeks over Christmas as everything is booked. I wouldn't mind if it was just us but our children keep asking where we will be and where Santa will find us. I just wondered if anyone has a 4+ property around Farnham way which they would be interested in renting over the holiday period. I know it's a strange request and most people would be hesitant because they don't know us. We would be more than happy to meet - we are a very house-proud couple and our children are very well-behaved ; ). Alternatively, if anyone has a house they rent out near Farnham, please let me know. I am feeling very guilty at the moment : (. Many thanks!!

[StarlightMcKenzie]

Can't you go back to where you came from for Christmas? Are they going to chuck you out of the holiday cottages?

[StarlightMcKenzie]

What's a 4+ property?

[wonderstuff]

I imagine 4 or more bedrooms.. Lots of properties in Farnham on rightmove to rent..

[hf128219]

I think they just need a house for the 2 weeks over Christmas.

[learnandsay]

I know nothing about estate agencies. But I did a Google search on 4+ and came up with the number of bedrooms.

[wonderstuff]

What are you going to do after Christmas?

[hf128219]

www.holidaylettings.co.uk/surrey/adate1.4739/adate2.4753/

Try here

[surreyagain]

Thanks. I know this isn't the right place to post. Moved back from overseas. Am registered with 20 agencies, huge waiting list for the school and so we need to wait for a house nearby to arise. Am ringing the agencies twice a week. Have tried many options and this was a last minute thought. Hope I don't annoy people posting on here : (

[GrimAndHumourlessAndEven]

oh that sounds grim

um um shove stuff into storage and hotel for the festive period?

tell kids that Santa is vair clever and knows where children are, the robins look for them and go and tell Santa

this is a robin, in case you are a bit hazy on bird id

[learnandsay]

As far as I can tell you're not annoying anyone. Hope you find a place. Hope you have a nice Christmas.

Oh, God. I hope..

[wonderstuff]

I can't help but good luck. I think I'd go for housing stability over school catchment if push came to shove. Hope it works out for you.

[surreyagain]

Thanks everyone : ). I am tempted to go for any house but hubby is insisting on waiting. Might have to go the hotel route. But with three little ones I just wanted a nice homely Christmas, not all cooped up in a hotel room. Trawled lots of holiday websites including the one above suggested. But everything is booked. Ho hum. Perhaps I should write to Santa as well ; !)

[lyraflo]

Good luck! I can imagine getting the kids comfortable for Christmas is number one priority! Maybe get them to write a letter to Santa telling him about what's going on! We're moving to Surrey from overseas on 18th December and the letter idea seems to be allaying large amount of anxiety - best of all, even if you have to "post" the letter with present delivery instructions at the last minute at least magic means it'll get to Father Christmas in time.

[annh]

Are you looking for a house to rent just so you can be on the huge waiting list for the school or are there places available once you find a house in catchment? It sounds like the former in which case, for God's sake, don't make yourselves miserable moving from pillar to post just so you can be on a waiting list. There must be other houses available. Where are your children going to school at the moment? And please say you're not waiting on South Farnham!

[madwomanintheattic]

Um, why is he insisting on waiting? What is he insisting on waiting for?

Initially I thought there were none avail, but there seem to be loads... Just sign up for a short term let whilst you find the 'forever' house?



Just as a matter of interest, which school are the kids in now, and why does it have to be Farnham? There are plenty of towns reasonably close if it is just for work, and there are several decent schools in them...

[surreyagain]

Thanks for your posts. We started planning this move months ago and visited lots of schools. We were happy to move to several of the areas. All had really long waiting lists so we chose the school we loved and the area as it seems to be a case of waiting wherever we go. So here we are. In Farnham. We need to be on the doorstep of the school or we will never make any inroads on the list. Actually, the list isn't too bad if we can find a house close by. But nothing at the moment and we have been told it will pick up again after Xmas. Just not sure where to go in the meantime. Hubby says if we take anything we will just sit on the list forever. The only school with places is not a good option at all. I am home teaching at the moment.

[RosemaryandThyme]

Is it that you are waiting to buy in the catchment area of your choice ?

And meanwhile you need to rent - is that right ?

If so, it seems a bit odd, it could take months for a property that you want to come on the market and to buy it and move in, meanwhile you'll be wasting lots on rent and struggling to keep four children up to speed academically at home, seems an awful lot of presure for you.

Time for a re-think maybe ?

If location is flexible perhaps reconsider school choices, must be some ace schools out there with spaces.

[OliviaMumsnet]

Hi there
WE are going to move this thread to our property section.
Thanks
Olivia
MNHQ

[hf128219]

Really confused! I thought you just needed somewhere to stay for 2 weeks over Christmas?

[OliviaMumsnet]

Best of luck sorting it all out

[wonderstuff]

One of the houses on rightmove was a short-term let..

[hattifattner]

put your stuff in storage for 2 weeks and move into a B&B or the travelodge. Theres a new one opening in ALdershot, theres one in Guildford, possibly one in Farnborough. Plus Camberley.

Or go stay with relatives.

Its hardly "Homeless at Christmas"