To ask what you’d do in this dire situation?

The landlord needs a cause to evict, no paying increased rent that is not agreed upon by both parties is not 'rent arrears' so not a reason.

The landlord can try to evict but they are ending no fault evictions so that loophole is closing with the renters rights bill (should be closed by March).

The landlord can ask the court to enforce rent increase which they can do but they will only allow a 'fair' amount increase which in the previous year of 2023 worked out as an average of 7%.

Why do you need to hire a van then? Hav you costed up the value of your possessions vs the cost of transporting them? Might be better to sell them in Surrey and replace in Devon?

I would pretend you’re camping and sleep on a mattress with your suitcase. You can gradually furnish, it’s not a race. Storage will give you a change to catch your breath and not be under pressure.

im so sorry op this is incredibly stressful but I believe in you xoxoxox

If I were you, just don't pay out your last months rent, LL can take your deposit. After all he's looking to get you out. You have to prioritise yourself in this situation.

So your new rent would be £1550, for a one bed flat?!?! Is that right?!

but then I’d need £1500 wouldn’t I? First months rent, deposit. Argh!

Not really - as you would have already budgeted £1000 for next month at your current place - so its £500 you need to find and end of tenancy clean upfront (which should be covered by your £1000 deposit return)

My son & flatmate cleaned their flat, shampooed the carpet etc. The letting agent actually asked which cleaning company they used as they were so impressed with how thorough it was! I doubt they can enforce the professional clean!

Do an online search for Selgars Retreat, they have a co-living arrangement that might suit you, it's in Devon.

won't your landlord owe you back your deposit? can't you use this as the deposit on your new place?

House sitting? Live in Guardians? There are websites for both. Though won't help with moving costs.

I've not read through the entire thread, so apologies if this has already been posted. Eviction proceedings can take months. Your council won't list you as homeless unless you have been evicted. So one genuine option is to refuse to move. It's a gamble; but it might buy you a few weeks or months, and by the sounds of it that's all you need. Go to the CAB, get advice (they'll tell you that this is what you need to do), and anything that you should communicate to your landlord.

What I'd do is seek a room as a lodger in someone's house for the short term from March. Lodgings are cheaper and you can give just a week or two notice. But do check you are compatible with the live-in landlord or landlady.

You could look for fully furnished flats in the areas you'd consider moving to.

Don't worry about not having everything at once if you do move to unfurnished. Buy a new mattress from IKEA for a couple of hundred pounds and look on local freecycle/FB for bed frames and other furniture for free. (Remember you can request wanted items as well as replying to offers.

Get the basics and upgrade as and when you have the cash. If you are clear and polite and explain you would appreciate offers being held onto until a given day, you can hire a man and a van to do the rounds and collect the freecycled stuff and carry it into the flat with you.

If you work from home does that mean you have more choices with where you life ? Could you consider Scotland temporarily.
This Scottish air b and b is $50 AUD a night so $25 pound roughly a night (I’m in Oz so if came up in my currency).

I also found this bond scheme that isn’t subject to credit checks on a website. It’s Perthshire but imagine other locations have this scheme.

You could look at storing your things and just taking a suitcase. Gradually move your things when you’ve got an address.

Lots of factors in play here

Earnings per month
Asking to house share and save
I wouldn't worry about furniture....buy things on gumtree as you go along

OP, have you thought about being a lodger in someone's house? I think there's a website somewhere where you can lodge with an older person (widowed for example) who needs extra income and who has a large house. That way, you'd get a furnished room and I presume bills would be included in the rent.

and how did your landlord respond?

When I had a dodgy landlord who kept other people’s deposits I didn’t pay my last month’s rent. Legally he can deduct it from your deposit but that obviously limits how much else he can deduct.

If you're wanting somewhere for a month or so, it could be worth asking airbnb properties if they would rent to you for a month at a reduced rate? If it's not a popular holiday destination they may well welcome a bit of out of season business, and you wouldn't need a deposit

Re professional clean. Be really careful here. What LL often do is if you do it yourself, even to a high standard. They just claim that it wasn't cleaned properly and will then contact the Deposit Protection agency to have it deducted from your deposit. They'll submit an invoice or similar, that charge a lot for end of tenancy cleans, which they can then deduct from the deposit.
If you don't have proof in the form of an invoice for the End of Tenancy Clean, they will deduct it!
I've had this tried on so many times in London. Even with full check out reports stating that it is was cleaned to a high standard. I had a MA and LL claim the flat was left in a poor state (complete lie, it was immaculate and unfurnished). As they didn't want to pay out my deposit. I had photos and video which I immediately sent, along with an end of Tenancy Report, everything, even the cleaning receipt. So they had to pay it out, it took me over 6 months and several threats to get my deposit back.
This is why they have deposit schemes now.

This is why end of tenancy cleans are so expensive! It's crazy, there's often nothing in the property, ie. unfurnished, they just clean surfaces and charge a lot because the LL are looking to deduct as much of your deposit as possible.

Contact the council of where you want to move to as you have local connections and see what assistance they may offer with deposit schemes.

os that including the part time role?

Look at being a lodger or shared house with a room large enough you can work in.
Though would Devon be any cheaper than where u are?