Renting as a single parent

[Mumoflil1]

Hi all,

Interested in opinions. I've recently ended things with my kids dad and now looking for somewhere to rent with my two dcs. Its been such a long slog, property around here gets snapped up so quickly and no landlord seems interested in us. I work full time on a fair salary.
Anyway, i put in a rental offer on a house, a bit above what i budgeted (out of desperation) and my offer was accepted - i think because its priced slightly higher than similar it didn't get as much interest as those in my budget. I've told the agents i need a few days to think about it now because i am wondering if im doing the right thing. Its more than i wanted to spend although i can afford it but after being turned down by so many landlords, do i just bite the bullet and pay over the odds? Obviously, i need to stay long term as can't uproot the kids again in the short term. Thoughts?

Is the house itself right for you? Do you like it? You could probably make peace with paying more if it works for your family. If it isn’t that nice, you will probably end up feeling resentful and miserable at paying over the odds for somewhere you don’t actually like. So for me, that would be a big factor.

Is it a house you want to live in long term? If so, go for it.

On a sidenote, can't say I'm surprised you are struggling to find a home. Even without COVID it's difficult to get tenets with kids out once they're in, and with COVID, not a chance. We personally won't rent to anybody with children under 12 unless their parents are VERY financially secure with impeccable recent references, and I see more and more landlords following that trend.

The house is ok, its well maintained - a bit further out from school than i would have liked. If the rent was that little bit lower i'd be happy with it. If i felt like i had more options i would absolutely walk on by but as youve said Eteri, i think to a landlord i'll never be seen as a better option than a two parent family or even a single parent with slightly older kids.
I've rented previously and received my full deposits back because i treated those places impeccably and was never ever even been a day late with rent. But, that doesnt seem to carry much weight when so many are looking for so few properties :(

@eteri I find it very hard. (before I rant I just want to say I'm not having any sort of go, I undertstand each house is the owners choice on who they let to!)
I rent a fairly expensive house. I childmind so need it to work for work purposes. I pay well over the odds as its only me when I finish work.
I can assure you I look after my house as much as I would if I owned it. The house has been massively improved since I rented it through my work and expense. Regularly decorated etc and it stresses me that we're limited by the fact kids are seen as house wreckers!!

I wouldn't really, if it isn't quite right anyway. You're basically paying extra because you're being discriminated against.

Do you have funds to put down six months on a more reasonably priced property? At least then you won't be getting ripped off and landlords will like that.

Not all landlords will like the six months in advance...it is a drug dealer tactic and this kind of payment can therefore invalidate rent guarantee insurance. (MN over sensitivity disclaimer , not implying op is a drug dealer!)

Check all legals as per the how to rent guide. How is the EPC? Is it a BTL or a landlord home where they might return? Many landlords are selling up as it becomes less profitable and more risky - what are the landlords plans? No sane landlord will give a new tenant a long fix but you should be able to get a year.

@DogsAreShit i potentially could get 6 months together, would just be another reminder of the extra hoops a single parent has to go through but definitely something i can consider.

@ntwa completely agree. I think thats what has made this decision hard knowing that i would be paying over the odds because im a single parent. I went to see a house last week, it was in an awful state but the location and space was good, i would have been happy to decorate at my expense but the lanlord still went with someone else even though i was long term, have good references and was happy to have taken on the tenancy straight away.

This landlord at this place seems nice (after hearing horror stories thats important) it just sucks that the situation means having to pay a premium on top of already high rents because im a single parent. Also, because i work full time my youngest is in nursery, we are out on weekends so we dont have time to destroy property! But there we go.

@murbblurb on the plus side the landlord has no intentions at all of selling which is also why hes keen to proceed with me because he knows i want longterm which i guess is another positive and definitely one im actually happy to pay a little extra for.

sounds promising - but contracts are all. How long a tenancy is he prepared to give you? Have you checked the legals and EPC?