Going to be moving into my car

[Dobbysgotthesocks]

So the order has come. I have six weeks to be out of the house.
Been trying to find somewhere to rent since I was first told my tenant would not be renewed in March.
Nothing!
Properties going for more than twice what I'm paying now.
I live alone, self employed and have cancer. My income doesn't now meet the minimum threshold for a tenancy.
Council will only offer a bedsit - so I would be able to keep my dogs. Have already given up my other animals.

So I'm a few weeks my dogs and I will move into my car ☹️

Harder than being homeless?!! And actually if it's a choice between homelessness or giving the dog up permanently (ie leaving it at a shelter) then again that is a CHOICE.

I agree with this.
Op I hope the bedsit bidding works out for you ( &the dogs!)
I would hate the thought of giving up my dogs- However, my health would be a priority.
Your reactive dog has coped with your clients- why couldnt she cope with a new owner?
It is cruel to keep dogs in a car- You sound like a decent owner, you know keeping a dog in a car would be cruel and likely make your reactive dog worse.
For your dogs sake- the kindest thing would be to re-home.

It's a choice OP doesn't want to make, granted. But the fact remains this is not a forced situation. This is not a family being evicted with zero income and no actual way to house themselves. This is an employed person with access to money who could choose to give up her pets in order to secure housing. Yes that choice might be bloody hard but it's a choice nonetheless. It's a dog not a child.

Leaving dogs alone in a car for large periods of time is cruel. Also what is the plan for OP in terms of washing clothes, storing her belongings, if the car is broken into, she goes to hospital?

It’s almost like OP wants to hear that living in a car is a reasonable idea (which it isn’t) or be offered something by a gullible dog lover.

Are other hospitals in the UK also participating in the trial? If so, you can request to transfer to another centre participating in the trial. If your salary is 28k, you may be able to find another job with a comparable salary there.

In fairness, these boards regularly have posts from people who are being evicted who can't find a new place to rent. These are people with jobs and decent money. There's a desperate lack of accommodation with scores of people applying for vacant properties, and not even the most desirable ones! Getting picked as a tenant is a bloody lottery.

The OP's rigidity does make things more challenging and I think there are ways she could be more flexible. But I don't think that's at the core of the issue. Even without the dogs she's struggling to meet the minimum threshold for renting (despite being on a decent salary) and others are being awarded the places before her.

That's the reality of renting in this country right now. The other issues with the OP are just the icing on the cake.

Firstly, I hope you can speak to Macmillan and other services and get the accommodation you desperately need. I have known of hospital admissions in circumstances like this but that wouldn't help with your dogs.

My tips are not because I think living in a car is a good idea but if you absolutely have to. I have camped in the car on road trips (and mine is tiny)

1. back of seat air mattress with extender - these are comfiest. Got mine on Amazon.
2. window covers - ideally insulated ones. Trust me that you want every possible gap covered as it can be creepy.
3. security is a concern but ventilation is also a concern I left the windows open a crack and set an alarm for 3am to open the doors for air. However this was in rural Scotland where security wasn't a large issue.
4. heat - cars get freezing overnight, even in summer: I'd recommend a thermal blanket on top of the mattress, a sleeping bag but also thick duvets, blankets and pillows. We have a USB plug in heater which I plugged into a power bank.
5. storage - if you can put all but the essentials into storage as the less you have in the car the better.

Sleeping in the car even just overnight / a few nights for me for camping wasn't fun, it was about the same as normal camping for sleep quality. As a nurse I know how valuable sleep is for hard shift work.

I'd get plenty of power banks and charge them at the gym.

Could you approach a local camp site / glamping site, explain your situation and ask about a long stay discount. My friend did this when escaping violence - a glamping pod - far better than the car and the owners gave her a really good price, she took her rabbit and cat.

If it was me I would also illegally reside in a garage over the car, although know it isn't ideal.

Also, if you leave your flat will you not be by law be voluntarily homeless (I'm in a different part of UK). Here the advice would be do not leave your current accommodation, eviction proceedings can be lengthy.

I haven’t RTFT so apologies if I’m repeating - I used to work in housing both for a council and a HA.

Dont move out until the bailiffs arrive, let it go to court, don’t move.

Keep bidding on properties, and when the bailiffs to evict you present to the council as homeless - your priority will increase and they have a duty to house you. It may be a b&b temporarily but if you can’t take the dogs In use the facilities and sleep in your car with them. You were planning to anyway, and it will be short term.

The council will find you housing, if it says no pets ignore it - never did we evict for people having pets even though they weren’t supposed to without a pet contract.

You will come through this and find somewhere, I wish you the best x

I’ll ask again: how can one run a business if one’s address is a car, i.e. no fixed abode? I don’t know the answer so if anyone knows, can they tell me, please. The OP will need to know, too.

Honestly, is living in a car the best things for your dogs?

@Dobbysgotthesocks So sorry you are in this position. I haven't read the full thread so I apologise if this has been suggested but have you searched gumtree? I know in Scotland private landlords advertise their private lets on gumtree. People also advertise on gumtree that they are looking for a house/flat etc and state their max budget. Could you put an advert on gumtree? Also on the day you become homeless walk into your council office and let them know you are officially homeless.

I think you can use the job centre for communication if you are nfa. You definitely can if claiming benefits but not sure for workers.

Hi OP

sorry about your situation and the meanness you’ve faced on this thread

above is excellent advice - I’ve worked in homelessness services and I’d 100% advise you to do the above

goos luck

OP if you try living in your car through winter, especially with cancer, you may well get very seriously ill. What is going to happen to the dogs then?

I am guessing here but I also suspect that if your doctors find out you are living in a car they may take you off the trial, as it’s no longer a fair trial of the drug/regime.

It is surely better to accept a less than ideal place, eg one without a garden, so that you will be able to take care of yourself and therefore be around for your dogs, rather than risk that outcome.

It isn’t dogs needs vs your needs. Your dogs need you to stay around, so for their sake do what you can to ensure this, which means living in a building not a car.

@Dobbysgotthesocks I’m in Plymouth so not too far from you, I don’t have anything helpful to say but just wanted to say I’m really sorry you’re in this situation & if you need a friendly ear anytime feel free to message me! x

Would any local holiday parks rent a caravan month by month or similar whilst you continue looking? Many take dogs.
I can't imagine being in your position, good luck 🤞🏼

No. But perhaps they may have experience of both autism and cancer and think they’re the priority here when replying and trying to offer help.

What's your search and travel radius? Is Plymouth doable for you. That's a larger city and cheaper than Exeter?

Hi I’ve been in a somewhat similar position regarding the housing with animals. Speak to the council again and don’t give up keep asking to speak to someone higher if they refute also and most importantly find out the details for your local mp and request a meeting then going forward cc them into all correspondence. It’s horrific how people with pets are treated before having my son my dogs kept me going and I owed them my life so I couldn’t of ever gotten rid of them! Good luck please ignore the horrific degenerate comments unfortunately it’s a sad realisation that terrifies me for the future. All the best honestly take care of yourself

I also wondered this (although a lot of parks completely close over the winter) but would you jeopardise your place on a council list if you had an alternative?

Agree some of the replies are utterly shameful. OP I’m so angry on your behalf that you are in this situation and I would do the same, I would never give up my dog. The suggestion of a year round campsite is probably your best option until you get yourself properly sorted, please look into that.

I hope that’s not the case here but it does seem that everything suggested isn’t suitable, whereas running a business from a car and living in a car with dogs is ok, whilst receiving cancer treatment whilst heading into colder weather. She’s also been vile about landlords and second home owners on other threads so I don’t think being offered anything from them can be the motive.

It seems cruel to force your dogs to live in a car!! Rehome your dogs and live in the bedsit

I’ve always wanted a dog, but never got one because I travel and work full time. It’s a luxury you can’t afford

@Dobbysgotthesocks

I have no advice I'm afraid but your Situation makes me so angry and sad that I'm one of the supposed richest country in the world people are in your situation

I'm sorry