...to wonder how the hell anyone on an average wage manages to rent in London?

[jonrotten]

I hate renting. Really fucking hate it but have no choice.

Dh works full time earning 30k. He works for a London borough, pretty good job with good prospects.

We live in a west London suburb. A three bed house flat goes anywhere from £1,600 pcm to £2,200 for somewhere that isn't a shit hole.

We claim top up housing benefit which means we can afford £1700. But no one will take you on with even partial housing benefit.

It's crazy. We can't move further afield as even within a 30 mile radius prices are still high and Dh would spend so much getting to work that it wouldn't be worth it (he has very good prospects where he is so its worth his while to stay).

I am so pissed off at the moment.

We're in greenford and pay £1150 for a 2 bed house with a big garden and off road parking!! Were on a main road and near a slightly dodgy estate but never had any problems at all.

Try on gumtree for landlords. They're more likely to consider the hb top up or try putting a letter through the door of any available property's you like the look of addressed to the LL explaining your situation. Often it's the EA that puts the blanket no hb ban on

Could you postpone your studies and get a job?

I know there would then be childcare to think about.

If your DS is disabled then I can't believe you are not allowed on any waiting lists. Do you not get DLA for him?

If your lease runs out, could you just declare yourselves homeless and then you'd be put in a B&B for a while but it'd be quicker to get housed.