Housing rant!

[Lollipopp]

I just need to write this out as I'm so depressed about our situation! me and my partner have 3 children. We where both on benefits but came off it all and recently become self employed earning what I would consider quite good considering our backgrounds and being quite young. We need to move as our house is awful for children, I mean really crawling with mould and fungus.

We've been looking for a new house, we've scrimped and saved up 6 months rent upfront as we're both newly self employed and mostly all of our bills are in cash including rent in so we don't have the proof in our banks to show our earnings (we've both started doing our accounts writing everything down in excel) so we know it's going to be complicated

We went to view a house and told them we have six months upfront and a homeowner guarantor. However they said our guarantor also needs to earn 36k a year! Both our parents are homeowners but retired or carers for their parents so we don't have that! We earn more than enough to cover rent and living expenses and we've worked so hard to get there! We're getting so depressed that we've done all this and we can't get anywhere. Working long hours and we're in the same situation

We've tried going through housing associations but they're going through every hoop not to house us despite doctors telling them the house isn't suitable for children.

Thanks if you read all this and if anyone has any advice that would be amazing!

Do you currently private rent? Your landlord should sort the mould!

@user1471459936 we do, he gets someone over every so often to use 'special paint' to sort it out, but it's so bad it comes straight back! And we know if we complain too much he'll just get new tenants in, and with no where else to go we're in the mindset of 'at least we have a roof over our heads'

Where are you, some agents are going over to insurance schemes to assist tenants. I’d be cheeky and email homelet for advice they can be good for information.

*And we know if we complain too much he'll just get new tenants in
*
It would be in your best interests if he did exactly that. It's illegal, for a start & judges are extremely alert to such behaviour.

You should approach environmental health and get them to have a look. If they decide it's unfit for human habitation, they can order him to make repairs. If he instead gives you notice to quit, you can show the order to a judge & LL will be in a lot of trouble.

If you do end up being evicted, the council have a duty of care to your family & you'll go up the housing list - provided you've done everything right and paid your rent on time, etc.

Moving without being able to demonstrate income is extremely difficult, so your best bet is to set about getting your home improved. Don't be anxious about anything your LL may or may not do...you have rights so start exercising them.