Homeless in a travelodge - any tips???

[Mooovingonout]

Anyone have any advice?

Currently staying in a travelodge as my landlord sold the house and we couldn't find anywhere else to rent.

Any tips to make this whole ordeal better???

The hotel floor we're on stinks of weed. Constant doors opening at night and running in halls. Kids are asleep and oblivious thankfully

💐OP it sounds miserable. How old are your DCs ? I'm guessing a lot of people are staying the hotel after Xmas parties etc.

Could you put a "Children sleeping" sign on your door ?

Oh OP that's horrible.

Would it help at all for the room to be in another location? Could be that there's no possibility to change, but for instance having a room at the end of a corridor means less people going past it, so noise levels are immediately cut. Doesn't help with the car park though.

Yes the council are paying, we're on the waiting list for housing.

The children sleeping sign is a good idea - but if people are coming back drunk then I doubt it would do any good. This travelodge is near the city centre and a lot of bars/restaurants.

Oh no you poor things. Is there nowhere you could stay, which is quieter even if you paid extra? I see you don’t drive and need carers so it would have to be relatively local but maybe your two youngest are at the same school and could share a taxi? I get that’s a cost… and living near the centre means you can shop for food whereas it would be hard somewhere further afield.

Hopefully you’ve bought a slo cooker. Air fryers are also supposed to be great. You can buy disposable liners for them.

I’d be worried about a children sleeping sign attracting worrying attention rather than encouraging people to be quiet.

I know that this is far from ideal, but what have you looked at in terms of private rent? Can you massively lower your standards, take something too small, not enough bedrooms etc?

I know that teenage kids in substandard housing would be very hard, but much better than this. And you could think of it as temporary whilst you look for something else.

Hopefully while you’re in the hotel at least some of your costs are being paid for by the council. Use this time to save as much money as you possibly can towards a deposit for renting privately. Don’t be tempted to overspend on takeaways etc - the more you can save the quicker that you can get out. Pp have had good suggestions about microwaves and slow cookers etc.

Do your older kids have close friends ? If so I would be tempted to ask the parents if they would have them to stay for a week after Christmas. That’ll get them out of the environment and give you a chance to focus on the youngest a bit. I’d happily have someone’s kids in these circumstances, even if I didn’t know them well, and I’m sure you would have done too. poss feasible to do with all of them depending on ages?

Do you have friends or family that you can go to for the day for Christmas ?

Good luck. This is a pretty awful situation at any time of the year but a lot worse with it happening over Christmas. It must be so hard.

Don't put a sign on the door. You'd just be making yourselves a target. Ask if you can be moved to quieter room that's end of corridor, not overlooking car park, etc.

So sorry you're going through this op, I was in a similar situation 6 years ago. 8 months pregnant, with a 2 year old dd, and spent Christmas in a grotty hotel. I hope they move you soon 💐

Re. smells - you could try spraying something like peppermint oil with water - which can also be bought on Amazon (as anti-mice spray).

Good point about the sign.

Will ask about moving rooms later on.

We've been told no to slow cooker/microwave/toaster. It's a fire hazard 😕 Cleaners saw my boxed toaster and we had a visit from reception.

We have family to go to for meals and relax. Kids play with cousins. Older ones can go to friends.

I just wish the doors didn't make so much noise when they close. The room next to ours slammed their door and our bed shook.

And if we do actually get to sleep the fire alarms go off between 8-8:30. Every morning this week!

So sorry you're going through this, OP. I used to work with homeless families, and have seen how awful it can be.

A microwave might be a useful addition if it's allowed, at least you could heat up ready meals then.

The housing situation is a scandal, when a family with 3 people working can't find somewhere affordable to live. We need rent controls and a social housing building programme asap.

Don't feel guilty, feel anger that the government have allowed a situation to develop where a working family don't have a home.

Plan for Christmas, lots of places are doing free meals on the day, what is on offer will depend on where you are and if you don't have a car then it needs to be in walking distance.

Put out feelers to anyone and everyone. If I knew a family in this situation they would be coming round to mine for meal and a movie.

I know it's a crap time of year to do it but could your kids have a sleep over at friends houses?

Another vote for a gurdwara for food but also for company.

See if there are any community centres near that have events or other things. My local one has a community shop and is currently doing 'breakfast with santa'.

People are good. Most people want to help but they have to know you need help. Take your pride, put it in your pocket to keep it safe, and ask.

Sorry, just seen no microwave rule. Bastards.

I've never come across a no microwave rule in a hotel that accommodates homeless families. I can't see that they're a fire risk.

My heart aches for you hun. Have you any friends that can help provide other accommodation for you? Giving hugs but short on ideas. Sorry x

I you’ve got a support structure around, which is great. Could your year 11 stay with family at least a couple of nights for study / quiet time? If you have family to go to, maybe you could play it smart for the cooking and cook there - do you have a mini fridge to store stuff?

I just had a quick google of what you can cook in a kettle. This was the first one, that came up. If you have a mini fridge and eat meat, you could store cooked meat in there and eat cold on the side. Otherwise, there are certain meats, which don’t need refrigeration, eg dried meats, which you can google. www.bajajelectricals.com/blog/food-a-holic/5-simple-and-delicious-recipes-that-you-can-cook-in-an-electric-kettle/

You would need a kettle specifically for cooking. You can get extra large kettles. Even water urns. www.studio.co.uk/shop/homewares/kitchen-essentials/small-appliances/kettles---coffee-makers/fine-elements-10l-hot-water-urn-24559458?source=TK2A&utm_source=GOOGLE&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PLA_%7C_Recruitment_%7C_Electricals_%7C_TK2A&utm_term=PRODUCT_GROUP&utm_content=Electricals&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-oqdBhDfARIsAO0TrGGlSvY4jWDqjKLgNXCSytDmgIki4XjssQVIuiNm6iX8FwhK33PIXekaAhHPEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I meant to say, if I knew your ds, I’d let him stay with me in the week for a night or two to study - as long as my dd and your ds would actually study…. Are you friends with any of your ds’s parents?

My DD were made homeless around 7 years ago. We were first put in a travel lodge, the 4 subsequent places before successfully bidding. The hotel was 30 miles away from DDs school which my uni 20 miles in a different direction. Anyway, point is it was unsuitable. If the travel lodge is unsuitable and they're keeping you there longer you can request a suitability check. I would contact shelter - they will be able to help in this respect. I know it's hard now but it doesn't last forever and better days are coming. Hang in there.

‘If you can, buy one of these single induction jobs from ikea - can then cook. Saves
money having to eat out as much. And can take with you to new home.
www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/tillreda-portable-induction-hob-1-zone-white-70493503/’

A sure fire way to be evicted from the hotel room.

As OP mentioned, hotel management have already pointed out that cooking appliances are a fire risk & not allowed.

@Mooovingonout things are hard for you & your family right now, but you will come through this very difficult times.

Hi OP, Hopefully you've contacted your local food bank by now and they have sorted you out with some suitable food.
You won't be able to use any appliances in the Travelodge except kettle.
Things that you can make with a kettle:
Idaho mash pots (they do cheesy ones and bubble snd squeak)
Pot noodles (all brands)
Mug pasta
Lost the pot mug noodles
Couscous (all brands)
Cuppa soups
Instant custard
Things that dont need refrigeration:
UHT milk ( get small cartons if you can as once opened it'll only last one day)
Pepperamis , meat jerky.
Primula cheese spread
Tinned tuna/fish
Meat paste
Crackers
Cereal /cereal bars
Tea, coffee, hot chocolate
Biscuits and crisps
Fresh fruit
Tinned / carton fruit and jelly pots
Evaporated milk
Rice pudding pots
Meal plan milkshakes
Squash
Fresh veg: (carrot batons, celery sticks, cucumber etc)
Bread won't keep well but you'll get a couple of days so buy small loaves or rolls for easy portioning.
Good luck and I hope they find you a better placement soon.

I’m so sorry, how utterly shite. Agreeing with those who think it’s disgraceful that a family with three working adults can’t find a home they can afford. What the hell is going on?!

White noise is brilliant for helping with sleep - there are 8 hour long videos of waterfalls on youtube which are very soothing and drown out lots of background noise so if you have ok Wi-Fi, you could always set one of those going. If the Wi-Fi is shite, do you have YouTube premium, or know anyone who does who could add you to their account? That way you can download the video you want while you’re at your family’s house and then also play it while your phone is locked (so no light pollution).

I really hope you are found a new place soon, or at the very least a hotel where you can have a microwave or hot plate and cook. But ideally, a home.

There's no point suggesting ways to cook, the OP has said they're not allowed appliances in the room.

What about an airfryer or mini oven? Aldi had them cheap and they are portable and will extend what you can cook so keep costs down. As for sleeping I have bought dc a sleeping mask which you can Bluetooth to a phone and listen to songs etc, may help early evening with sleeping. I think they were about £8.

From amazon

Given you’re not allowed cooking appliances would the council pay for you to have breakfast at the hotel? a cooked breakfast might help nutrition wise as everything you can make with a kettle tends to be heavy on carbs and low on protein.

Thanks everyone, your advice is really helpful and I do appreciate it.

With regards to renting - we tried, I failed the credit checks. We need a guarantor who earns at least £35k, we don't know anyone. Our joint income is £30k, haven't included Ds as I'm worried about affordability when he decides to move out. There's also the chance of future landlords selling up and us being in this situation again.

This hotel is on a bus route to dc's schools so lucky in that aspect, ds15 is able to get the bus to see friends.

🌺