To think on 28k i can afford to rent a 900 pcm house

[Shambambolista]

That's my part time salary at 27 hours per week. That's the cheapest I can find to fit me and 2 kids that a landlord will accept as so many wouldn't accept 2 kids in smaller properties that were only about 50 quid cheaper. Its doable isn't it? Or am I off my rocker?
Sorry I'm trying to escape abusive husband without going to a refuge as don't want to disrupt the kids too much with lots of moves, so trying to grab the first rental that's vaguely suitable

I think given your circumstances you'll have to take it tbh, though you will be very very broke. Make sure you claim everything you can, tax credits, HB, CT discount, employer childcare tax scheme etc.

Folk - OP is trying to leave an abusive husband....

Yes, but there's no use her taking a property that she won't be able to afford - she'll end up in even more trouble if she can't pay her rent/bills.

Have rather cheekily done a rough and ready calculation using the Turn2Us website on the basis of the info in your OP and a few guesses. I was wrong in my earlier post as it looks as though you should get some tax credits and housing benefit. I would definitely go and see your local CAB for full and proper advice. Be aware that depending on the local rental market, many landlords and agents do not want tenants on housing benefit so tread carefully on that one.

I think you might struggle with associated childcare costs TBH. I did £450 pcm with a salary of £20,000 and childcare costs of £1250 pcm thanks to HMRC and tax credits paying 50% of my childcare, but it was very hard and I lived in poverty for several years before DC got to an age where childcare costs dropped and my career took off. If you think your prospects will improve though in the not-too-distant future, I would go for it. Refuges are amazing places we need more of, but you're not wrong to think that having your own place will feel better for you and your DC.

Good luck.

I tell you what I pay (roughly)

£950 rent
£115 C/tax (you'll get 25% off so £86)
£40 sewage
£40 water
£90 electric & gas
£15 tv licence
£10 home insurance
£45 mobile phone

That's £1305

You'd have £625, left to spend on shopping, car (if you have one) and childcare (if you pay it).

Remember you will also need to pay a deposit and a month's in advance.

We also have to pay to renew our tenancy and you have to remember money for emergencies (you never know!)

Assuming you are totally debt free and don't have anything on HP, then you could potentially do it, at a squeeze.

Even if CC is £50 a day, surely on your salary it would be worthwhile going FT?

OP you need to get child support from your husband. He can't just not pay for his children. Unless he's self-employed?

Should be about 1800a month net. So you have 1000 left after rent and CT (plus child benefit and maintenance).

Very tight, but if you have to, you'd manage.

Very, very tight. Keep trying cheaper properties - you may find a landlord that will take you. If you went to a refuge first, would that help up your housing priority with the council?

I would consider either as your current situation is very bad .

I wouldn't advocate the OP making her plans on maintenance. Yes her H should be paying it, but if he's abusive he will use maintenance to try to mess her around and make her vulnerable. Far better she relies only on money she has control over and uses maintenance for extras or savings.

Forget relying on maintenance. I've been waiting two years for some off my ex (also a DV case)

YY to not relying on maintenance. Even if you go through the CSA/CMS, they're not particularly reliable and have been known to mess up payments/miss payments/lose money.

Don't include that in your income when you're budgeting.

I would not be able to afford that rent on that salary. Even when you plan and budget there are so many extra costs with children that seem to arise and some months are more expensive than others.

Can you negotiate a lower rent? When I was renting a house out, I accepted that as somebody was better than nobody.

I don't think so. That's more than what both our incomes are combined bu about a grand and our whole bills only come to like 530 pcm and sometimes it's tight. We have more kids than you and 4 vehicles but still it's a lot

Tax credits are being cut to the bone next year. I have been on the unison calculator and on that income for us we are not entitled to any. So I would not include them in your calculation if I was you.

I know someone who does something similar in Essex because she kicked out an abusive partner but didn't want to move.

She cycles everywhere so no transport costs, really minimal use of heating and appliances. She has family and friends to help out with after school. She has zero social life and the kids is very basic and often funded by treats from parents.

Sorry posted too soon. But it is doable short term at least if you are prepared to make big sacrifices and stick to them.

It is worth considering the refuge option, especially if you're leaving an abusive partner. I left my violent DH last year and I only had to stay two weeks in a refuge, then I was prioritised for temporary housing and I'm now in a lovely council flat (we are in London where the waiting time is usually much longer). It's been disruptive in the short term but it means our rent is now about a third of the cost of private rentals around here, plus I feel secure that it won't be raised significantly in the long term and that our tenancy is secure. If I'd gone for a private rental then the tenancy would be much weaker and I could be expected to move every few years like friends of mine.

Thanks all. I so appreciate your input I'll have to have another think

This is exactly why DH and I ended up homeless, we just couldn't afford private (could have in reality but LLs didn't think so!) because of crazy rents... Its shit OP and you have my sympathy

So sorry to hear that squiggle