Please advise me on my housing situation

[Wantmyownbed]

I'm a single parent currently renting a 2 bed house with my DCs aged 9 and 10. We have been here for 8 years and are very happy, the house is small but we manage ok at the mo, can't imagine being here with 2 teenagers though.
DC have a room each and I sleep on the sofa in the living room (only 1 reception room), this situation has just kind of evolved and I don't mind so much but I would love to have my own space.

Rent here is fab, never had a raise but been warned of one in september. Bills are really low compared to others as house is so small. My income has risen since we moved in as I've done a post grad, had some promotions and work full time now. I can save a little bit each month thanks to maintenance from DCs dad and wanted to put that towards a house in the very distant future for us.

As people have discovered that I sleep on the sofa (parents, close friends) they have suggested that we may have a better quality of life if we moved to a 3 bed so I could have my own room and that it would be better for the children. I agree so looked at moving. Rents have gone up and I'm looking at an extra £200 per month for another bedroom plus the extra utilities etc so im in a quandary at the moment.

Do I coast it out for a while in my affordable 2 bed with two soon to be 6foot plus teenagers or really stretch myself and go for a 3 bed. Luckily my exp says he will help with some more maintenance which is kind but I worry as the bulk of everything is on me. I have job security and the ability to earn more each month if I work extra hours (NHS bank).
I appreciate that I am very lucky to even be considering this at the moment, moving will be an extreme stretch but maybe that will be worth it?

What would you do? I have a 3 bed house viewing at 2.15 so may go quiet for a bit.

I would move. With just one reception room doubling as your bedroom it's just going to get more difficult. If you can't imagine living like this when the kids are teenagers, it makes sense to take the plunge and move now, particularly as you know the rent will increase

I would move, without question. Teenagers take up so much room, and actually once you do you'll wonder how/why on earth you lived this way for so long.

You can afford it and you've been assured you'll have help. No reason not to IMO.

For just an extra £200, I'd take that opportunity in a heartbeat. Providing its affordable. We need another bedroom or reception room but unfortunately it's at least another £700. Our rents only £500.

It depends. If you are saving for a deposit, then I'd be tempted to stay put for now as rent + bigger bills in a larger house might eat into your savings.

Well that was an eye opener! For an extra £190 per month I get an extra bedroom but wouldn't ever want to live there and I have seriously low standards. Visible damp, no doors on built in kitchen cupboards and stained carpets...

Been back on Rightmove and rang a few others, they are around £250 more than I pay here and they won't even book me in to see the property without doing and passing a qualifying questionnaire. I've filled in 2 so far and had no responses. Looks like it will be hard as a single parent, even with a good income. I am happy that we have our little house though.

Does your landlord own any other properties? It might be worth asking - it sounds like they've been decent landlords & they might have another larger property you could rent from them now or in the near future.

(& I say that as someone who has rented some absolute dumps in the past, so I understand the worry of leaving a property that isn't full of damp or other issues!)

If it’s working for you right now then I would stay where you are.

How long do you think it will take you to save and move house? And Will renting a three bed scupper these plans?

I'm sorry it was terrible!!

if your ex is willing & able to pay more, can he not either do so anyway or save it up to help you move when the time is right?

does he pay a reasonable amount now?

Are you saving up for a rental deposit or a deposit to buy?

Are you or the children unhappy with the situation right now? They're a good way off being big teenagers yet. By the time they are you could have saved a decent deposit for somewhere else.

im sorry, it's definitely not easy on your own !!

My landlord is a lovely guy who bought his parents council house under the right to buy scheme many years ago (for about £10k). He was born here and loves it, unfortunately he doesn't have any others and won't sell it to me, I have asked the question many times as the loft would convert to my master suite nicely in my dreams 😄

I have some savings and I'm lucky that I can work extra bank shifts and save pretty much all of that money really so could build up a good deposit in around 3 years. That's why I've never really entertained the idea of moving before now, it's only since my sofa sleeping secret got out that people have tried to tell me it's a bad idea.

My Ex pays what he should for his income and we are quite a frugal little trio. My car is ancient but reliable. We could afford to move, but is it just a luxury? I live in a cheap area of the UK, the Midlands so we aren't talking thousands a month.

You also need to Factor in when the children are 18. And still at home what your financial situation will look like then.

I'd wait until you can buy personally.

I’d wait if you are happy as you are, especially if you think in a few years you can buy. There is no way I’d stretch myself to the max, especially when there is another 40% increase in utilities coming and further food price increases.

Wait til you can buy, no question about it. You are happy sleeping on the sofa, who cares what others think. Book those bank shifts, carry on saving, and buy the 3 bed of your dreams.

I'd wait a bit longer. Your landlord seems reasonable. Also, you aren't yet at a stage where you are finding it unbearably small.

Thank you all so much for your advice. I managed to 'qualify' and am allowed to see a house tomorrow but it's very expensive. I'm going to go and see what I could get for my money and make a decision from there I think.
I will need to buy soon, I am 40 next year and worry about running out of mortgageable years, staying here means I can save more for sure.

Are the children the same sex? If so, could they share a room? Plenty of children do, and then you would have a bed!

No, they are not the same sex. The main reason they don't share is that one of them sleep talks, a lot. I used to share a room with them as a solution and would wake up to some right random ramblings so that's why I started sleeping downstairs.

Just remember that for all those saying you should move to a 3 bed for 'comfort', at the end of the day they will not be the ones who will be paying your increased (and increasing) bills.

Joining those recommending that you Stay and Save to get out of renting permanently.

If you could feasibly be in your own house with a lower mortgage than your current rent, by the time you're 43/44, then I'd absolutely stay where you are. You need to think of the future once the kids have moved out.

I would stay if you can realistically buy in three years. Given that people know know you are on the sofa, would there be anywhere to put a single bed in the lounge do you more comfortable?

If your current landlord is good and it suits you, why move? I'd be nervous about moving then getting a section 21 after a year (having had that happen). I sleep in the living room on a sofa bed at the moment, I think just a normal sofa would be not great long term.

Another thought have you got your name on the council housing list? If your children aren't the same sex then they will be in need of their own rooms once they are above a certain age and if you're sleeping on the sofa does that count as being overcrowded? I know waiting lists are very long but this could be something that you do in the meantime as you never know what might turn up!