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

Are you being serious?! Read the thread ffs. What a hideous human being you’ve just made yourself sound.

I bet the op hadn’t thought to Google a house to live in. Thank you for that helpful information.

Lord above.

It's 100% a thing that some schools/hospitals etc struggle to recruit staff because of housing prices in the local area. Not just teachers and nurses but TAs, HCAs etc.

OP- I know you don't want to move because of your child doing GCSEs, but is there any possibility they could stay with family/friends- it would only be 6 months?

And then you could look for housing in a cheaper area? It might mean a long distance move but there are parts of the country where you could find a rental on a joint income of £30k.

This sounds SO stressful. Eek.

Are you being serious or do you just like sticking the boot in?

Oh, of course!
Thank God you came along with that suggestion.
In the meantime OP, don't like the Travelodge, just book yourself into Claridge's instead.

Don't feed the troll ffs. Report and move on.

Staying with family or friends isn’t a solution to involuntary homelessness.

While you are staying in temporary accommodation provided by the council, they have a duty to house you. Ok, it might be shit but it’s a roof over your head and you know you will be warm. When a suitable council house or private rental eventually comes up, you will be in a prime position to be eligible for it.

The second you move in with friends or family, you are no longer homeless. When they (inevitably) get fed up of you or are no longer able to house you, you are back to square one again - only 6 months down the line and no closer to your own home because now you’re classed as voluntarily homeless.

I really hope you manage to have a somewhat nice family Christmas together. Hopefully warmth at least and safe at least. I’m sorry to hear you’re in this position.

this country has gone to dogs sorry op like others said get them to do another check doesnt sound sustainable

I've been homeless and in temporary housing twice. Remember this, too, shall pass, and find nice stuff to do to take your mind of things if you can.

If I were you I might think your husband was a bit shit though maybe.

I suppose a council house will give you security.

Huh??

Economic migrants aren't housed in hotels, BTW.
People who enter the country illegally are not placed in hotels.
You have to register as an asylum seeker to get any assistance. Then you are processed as per the law.

No practical advice OP but my heart goes out to you all and you and your DH are remaining very strong for your kids. Pray that you are housed soon and safely soon. x

Sorry you are in this situation. I remember being in a hostel one Xmas at about 8. We had hardly anything and it wasn't an ideal situation but the thing I remember most is us all being together and how loved I felt. So don't worry too much about the kids xx

Wow 😯 thanks everyone for the help, I never expected so many replies.

We've been to the cinema this morning, Xmas movies for juniors only £2.50 each. Was a nice change for them and I loved seeing and hearing them laugh.

I will get onto the council after Xmas, my housing officer is off now until Wednesday.

The weed smoker got kicked out. We came home one evening and the whole corridor reeked - including both our rooms. DH went to reception to complain. Lovely lady came up with air freshener and promised to get security to come up and walk our hallway more often. Couple of hours later we heard some shouting and banging. Next morning and ever since it's smelled lovely

that's good x

How is that shaming anyone? And where have I said the OP doesn't deserve a home? I'm not suggesting she goes put to a 5 star restaurant, just somewhere where they can get a decent hot meal, they have money as they both have jobs. There's no need to be surviving on pot noodles.

I think the problem there is that three adults would then have to give up work.

I blame Thatcher for the housing crisis.

At one time you could use benefits to pay mortgage interest (I think UC allows this now) so you could buy a house on a modest income.

Then Thatcher did a few things:

1. you could only use benefits to pay rent, some people moved literally next door and paid the same amount in rent as they had for a mortgage

2. Allowed people to buy council homes, with no way for councils to replace the property

Number 1 contributed to people becoming landlords. As house prices have risen so have rents.

OP

Sorry to rant.

How are you today? What could be useful to you?

@sashh We had our first mortgage in the 70s, it was so hard to get, we had to save with a specific building society for quite a while for the deposit. I don’t remember people on unemployment benefit being able to access mortgages. If they later became unemployed, and could afford the payments, that was different.

i agree about the shortage of social housing. No government since Right to Buy was introduced has done much to improve the situation. However, I can remember in the northern city where I worked at the turn of the century, there were lots of empty council properties leading to quite a lot of demolition of the less popular types. (I know this wasn’t the case everywhere.) Then house prices increased, and the demand rose again, but with far fewer vacant homes. Housing registers everywhere are oversubscribed again.

Lots of good tips, also put something at bottom of your door to help muffle sound. Sorry you're in this position, really hope you find somewhere soon. Do they have upper floors there? As far away from main area as possible will be quieter, can u ask for a different room? Sending love and hugs. Xxx

Hope you get somewhere soon. Some catering ideas …

Large plastic food containers with lids - for cooking couscous etc in.
Tinned sweetcorn add to pasta pots etc
Tinned tuna to mix in with pasta/noodles
Packet soups, noodles, rice.

Tin opener/sharp knife
Small chopping board

Desserts:
Just add boiling water custard with bananas
Soreen malt loaf etc

Baby food - yoghurt pouches that don’t need refrigeration. Also fruit pouches to add to porridge. Jelly pouches.

Brioche - cut them open add honey (squeeze style bottle)

Instant porridge oats - just add boiling water.
Dried fruit to add to porridge oats.

Small fruit salad in juice pots.

Nuts
Muesli bars

Some treat sweet and savoury picnic foods.

Drinks:-

Bovril or Marmite
Fruit teas
Instant chai
Hot chocolate

Soya milk appears to last longer without being refrigerated in my experience

Other suggestions:-
Ear plugs
Bag against the door to block hall lights at night