What do you do when you cannot afford private tent and there is no social housing

[Thekormachameleon]

Just that really
Divorced, need to sell family home, will just about clear mortgage so no lump sum
Don't earn enough to rent privately but earn too much for benefits

Zero chance of social housing due to waiting lists

I absolutely will not go into B&B/hostel

Really don't know what to do. Are there any options I'm missing ?

To answer some questions
I've checked entitled to - apparently no benefits available

I can't move somewhere cheaper, I need to stay close to family due to ill health

Can't live in a van/car/similar due to disability and aforementioned I'll health

Yes I do have an NHS pension - whomever assumed I didn't- why did you assume that ?
I'm under 55
And yes, I need somewhere my son can come home to during holidays

I lived in an Air BnB after my divorce until I found a room on spareroom.com. HMO was really difficult in my 40s but I had no choice as rent was judged on 33x monthly salRY and I didn't have that. Luckily 2 years later I moved in with my current partner who lived next door. Everything happens for a REASON

Adult house share? Get a flat with someone else?

Try spare room website OP. I've had some good house shares on there and made good friends out of it. Its lonely and expensive to live by yourself. A luxury few can afford it seems (I'm currently looking for a lodger due to living alone).

Tbf I think its only the recent past when anyone could afford a property alone.

If you have to stay close to family can you not move in with said family?

Your son is 20, an adult. You're broke and can't afford to baby him. Does he have a permanent part time job and if not can he get one? Can you rent somewhere as joint tenants to pass affordability checks. Two adults flat sharing not mum providing son with a roof over his adult head. I know he'll always be your baby but you can't afford him any more, he needs to pay his way.

OP how under 55? No need to answer but bear in mind a lot of the council sheltered/age restricted housing is over 55 or disabled. You're not without a chance of being placed there if you're vulnerable and within a decade or so of the limit. Maybe not if you're only 30 or something. Lots of council and housing association properties allow dogs so if you could rehouse your pets with family temporarily you could have them back once in permanent housing. Some charities will provide foster homes for pets for people in this situation too.

Most LL are not paying off their mortgage on their btl they are on an interest only mortgage. But don't let facts get in the way of your disdain.

Companion type live in role perhaps. House sitter. Lodger.

I know you don’t want to move area but there must be affordable private rentals if you widen your area. They might not be in the nicest areas but you’d have a roof over your head.

I'm thinking the dogs might be a problem, since it's just you can you be a lodger or houseshare? Or a small studio?

Speak to an independent broker and go through options of what you can possibly do moving forwards re seeing if can stay in home, get a mortgage for smaller flat. After that I’d be looking at shared places if needed as then least you can try and build up a deposit and if you son comes back home will just have to sleep on your floor.

Why would u want to claim.benfits if ur getting 40k that's just ridiculous sorry!!