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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

We may lose our home.

42 replies

catnao · 04/04/2011 22:51

House riddled with wood worm. Living room floor collasped. Landlord says we may have to move out as " I am sick of this rubbish investment". Very sad. I love this village, have made lots of friends and son meant to start (very good) high school in September.

He only has to give us 2 months notice to quit.

I can't drive and don't want to go.

Damn my honesty. :(

OP posts:
MorticiaAddams · 04/04/2011 22:53

If you know all the houses faults can't you try and get a mortgage and get a good deal to buy the house? If he's going to lose money he might be grateful not to have to pay estate agents fees.

Thingumy · 04/04/2011 22:56

is there any other properties in your village for rent?

It's worth asking about as usually someone knows someone who knows someone needs tenants.

Original poster
catnao · 04/04/2011 22:56

We can't afford to buy - no deposit and I have a bad credit rating from years ago. To buy, the house would be about £150k. And it has quite a few problems. Very depressed at the mo.

OP posts:
Flowerpotmummy · 04/04/2011 22:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
catnao · 04/04/2011 22:58

Very rare to find rental properties here. Most are estate cottages for the Spencers (as in Lady Di ;) ) if they come up. Every 20 yrs or so.

OP posts:
dontcallmepeanut · 04/04/2011 22:58

hugs So sorry I don't have any advice.

Thingumy · 04/04/2011 23:00

I see.

It's still worth asking around though,you never know until you ask.

I hope it all works out for you.

FabbyChic · 04/04/2011 23:01

You can learn to drive in two months easy. Start looking for properties within driving distance of there now to see what you come up with, he has to repay your deposit and you pay rent in advance so the last month you have teh deposit and the rent in advance for a new property.

Original poster
catnao · 04/04/2011 23:01

I feel so sad - I love it here, but am having to face the fact that we may have to go back to a city rental soon.

OP posts:
Original poster
catnao · 04/04/2011 23:05

Would it be wrong to ask my parents?
For the deposit, I mean?
Knowing this house is cheap for the area BECAUSE of its falling down issues?

OP posts:
Thingumy · 04/04/2011 23:06

only you know if they will agree to lend you the money.

Go for it if you think they would be willing to help out.

ThatVikRinA22 · 04/04/2011 23:07

if your parents are in a position to help then why not ask? they can only say no...

Original poster
catnao · 04/04/2011 23:09

They might lend - but it isn't a great investment - along with the wood worm there is dry rot and a 25 yr old boiler - the house is like the Guardian "wreck of the week".

I think we may have to bite the bullett and accept that the rural idyll is finished. : (

OP posts:
HHLimbo · 04/04/2011 23:11

Is there some land that you could buy nearby?

Original poster
catnao · 04/04/2011 23:13

Well. At the moment we have wasteland which we maintain as part of our rental?

OP posts:
Thingumy · 04/04/2011 23:16

Would the property be worth a fair amount after the treatment and work?

150k is pretty cheap unless it literally is falling down around your ears,you may even get it cheaper with negotiations.

Worth talking about imo.

Original poster
catnao · 04/04/2011 23:17

I have to go to bed - but any suggestions, please!! Cx

OP posts:
Original poster
catnao · 04/04/2011 23:18

Thanks Thingumy, I just got that! Cx

OP posts:
Islandlady · 04/04/2011 23:26

I am sorry but if the house is riddled with woodworm as you say even if you did find a deposit you would not get a mortgage on it, once a survey has been done and the results sent back to your lender they would not touch it with a barge pole.

Cant you ask the landlord if he could make repairs and you pay a higher rent
so he gets his money back eventually

Original poster
catnao · 04/04/2011 23:27

Just going to bed now, dreaming of the horrible reality that we are probably going to have to move back to a hateful flat in central London. :(

OP posts:
Original poster
catnao · 04/04/2011 23:31

From our beautiful, but tiny cottage, where we LOVE the life style. :(

OP posts:
solo · 04/04/2011 23:32

But woodworm and rot can be cured. My first house had woodworm; you get specialists in to deal with it. A lender might hold a retainer on the borrowing, but that's sorted when the work is done.

annh · 04/04/2011 23:34

Aren't you being a bit dramatic - surely there is a happy medium between rural idyll and hateful central London? Why do you have to go from one to the other?

MorticiaAddams · 05/04/2011 00:09

I feel so sad - I love it here, but am having to face the fact that we may have to go back to a city rental soon.

Did you see Fabbychic's post, she said you could learn to drive in a couple of months. From the rest of your posts I have a suspicion you are going to find an excuse for any sensible posts and just sigh and moan about your situation without making any real effort.

Unfortunately you have hit on one of my biggest bugbears which is people that don't drive and then moan about not being able to get anyway. I would go stir crazy not being able to jump in the car and get out when I need to or plan a military operation with the dcs on three buses just to get somewhere.

Thingumy · 05/04/2011 00:17

Kill everyone who doesn't drive.

Hmm

Public transport is equally easy to use.