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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Or am I fucked?

132 replies

pabstblueribbon · 10/11/2016 15:25

Single sahm to 2 year old dd. Looking to move house to a nicer area (where dd's nursery is) but no one seems to accept housing benefit. I also have 2 cats which also seem undesirable to every landlord I've come across so far.

Looking for part-time work but even then it still won't be enough and will be topped up by housing benefit. What on earth do I do?

OP posts:
Original poster
pabstblueribbon · 11/11/2016 10:54

Why would someone not working because they're a sahm be a big no to you Fleur?

OP posts:
Pisssssedofff · 11/11/2016 10:57

pabstblueribbon it's a massive problem for some, estate agents can't get their heads around, I've had mortgage advisors look at me like I'm mental. I have more disposable income not working than when I am but that seems to blow some people's minds

MidniteScribbler · 11/11/2016 11:13

A SAHP is one thing, but a single parent with a two year old, that means you aren't on maternity leave, and therefore don't have a career to go back to. When you finally decide to go back to work (if you ever do), you'll have been out of the workforce for a long time and will find it more difficult to find work.

RhodaBorrocks · 11/11/2016 12:44

My council made it very clear that you do not have to disclose if you're on HB and that if you are refused on those grounds then you are being discriminated against and that the mortgage/insurance providers aren't operating completely legally.

When I called Shelter when my options were not tell the letting agents or tell them and not be housed, they said the same.

There is not enough council housing in this country for those who need it, HB was created so that people who can't get a council house can still rent at a reasonable rate . That's how it's intended. Companies adding clauses to block this was done later and are in a grey area legally speaking - there's nothing that says they can't do it, but by doing it they are indirectly discriminating.

I've never had to submit bank statements, but my guarantor has. I've been through 3 letting agencies. My references are excellent.

Pisssssedofff · 11/11/2016 12:54

Guarantor is the game changer in this country

expatinscotland · 11/11/2016 13:09

'Why would someone not working because they're a sahm be a big no to you Fleur?'

They are to a lot of LLs because there's more wear and tear on the home, in their opinion.

You do have time, there's no rush. So first thing I'd look at it if you have no guarantor is getting a job. It's an uphill battle getting a tenancy when you're on full benefits and have no guarantor.

expatinscotland · 11/11/2016 13:16

'My council made it very clear that you do not have to disclose if you're on HB and that if you are refused on those grounds then you are being discriminated against and that the mortgage/insurance providers aren't operating completely legally. '

I can't think of a LL who will rent to someone and not want to that tenant to prove where their income is from except if they are letting to someone who is paying all the rent in advance. So they'll see payments of HB on any bank statements. It's entirely legal to not accept tenants on HB or who have children.

CJCreggsGoldfish · 11/11/2016 13:28

I would recommend having a chat with a few estate agents and see if you can find a sympathetic one. We have a single mother as a tenant and her parents are her guarantor (there are no pets involved, but this wouldn't have put us off). The estate agent really sold the tenant to us, she already rented with this agency so they had a history of her payments. Do you think you could get proof of no missed payments?

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 11/11/2016 13:36

I've never had to submit bank statements, but my guarantor has. I've been through 3 letting agencies. My references are excellent.

That's how you've got away with it - for most people, hiding it wouldn't be an option because they want statements and affordability checks that wouldn't pass without the HB. But if you've got a willing guarantor, they won't care if you're on HB or not - if you stop paying, the guarantor does.

It's one thing to say "Don't tell", but the reality is harder. You are best to not tell and use the guarantor option if you can, but if that's not an option, it's trying to find lets that don't have agents or have more casual landlords. There's pretty much no private letting market here, it's owned by the agencies, so it would be nearly impossible to rent here on HB without a guarantor.

I believe that the HB/discrimination case has been tested, though, and it was found to be non-discriminatory - I'll look for the case after work.

Original poster
pabstblueribbon · 11/11/2016 15:11

I do have a guarantor and I am looking for a job.

OP posts:
MidniteScribbler · 11/11/2016 16:47

Looking for a job is very different from actually having one.

Original poster
pabstblueribbon · 11/11/2016 17:08

Well I'm quite confident in my ability to get one. I've been shortlisted for an interview so I can't be that undesirable

OP posts:
MidniteScribbler · 11/11/2016 17:30

Shortlisted for an interview is not even close to being actually working and having a steady income coming in.

atetoomanybiscuits · 11/11/2016 17:41

I thought the main issue with HB is that it's not normally paid at the full amount so you top up, then if you get behind in rent the council tell you to stay put if evicted or you've made yourself homeless and they won't help you.

With cats, it's that they pick furniture and carpets. Less issue with no furnished and hard floors.

I'd try and get yourself in work, and find a cat suitable property if you can. Good luck!

Original poster
pabstblueribbon · 11/11/2016 17:48

Jeez midnite you're full of positivity. It's closer to working than I was yesterday!

OP posts:
stumblymonkey · 11/11/2016 17:49

Depends on how honest you want to be...don't tell them about the cats.

Move in with cats. Put cats outside or take them to a friend/relative's house when you have a house inspection (they give you lots of notice)

AnnabelC · 11/11/2016 17:50

Can your dd dad help you?

Original poster
pabstblueribbon · 11/11/2016 18:02

In what way Annabel?

OP posts:
MidniteScribbler · 11/11/2016 18:13

Jeez midnite you're full of positivity. It's closer to working than I was yesterday!

Closer to working than yesterday? Did you suddenly get a job overnight? If you didn't, that's not much use to a landlord. Shortlisted for an interview means absolutely fuck all. Do you seriously expect a potential landlord to accept you based on 'shortlisted for an interview'? If you aren't working, then you are unemployed. Unless you have a job, then don't expect anyone to treat you the same as someone who is employed.

Verbena37 · 11/11/2016 18:18

Could you not put your name down for social housing in a nice area? Lower rent as well.

Mamafaery · 11/11/2016 18:24

If you can get financial help, offer a larger deposit and most landlords should be fine with that. It's generally the additional risk of damage that can put them off, like scratches on the doors and clawing the carpet etc. If you also agree to cover costs then they should be okay with that. I'm a disabled single mum of two kids and I have two cats. I wouldn't rehome them. You can't get rid of animals just like that. I think people who say 'just rehome them' dont necessarily understand what having pets is like. I paid six months rent upfront and agreed to regularly clean the carpets (because of cat smell/pee/spray). I also agreed to pay for any repairs caused by cat damage. Room size remnants are reasonably cheap and if you're on benefits you can often access grants via the DWP or local charities, or a loan from the social fund.

Good luck 😀

Memoires · 11/11/2016 18:37

Midnite I don't get the impression op was trying to equate being shortlisted for a job to actually having a job; I think she was just telling
us tht she's one step closer to having a job than she was yesterday, which she is. I certainly don't think she was expecting any Ll to treat her as employed on the strength of being shortlisted.

Well done, op! Good luck.

AllieBomBally · 11/11/2016 18:53

Get someone to lend you the deposit if you can then get the HB paid directly to you and the landlord will never know, have done that myself after being advised to do so by the agent! The cats are a different matter, they may have to go, sadly.

Unicorn1981 · 11/11/2016 19:23

We also paid a higher deposit for our cat as some companies wouldn't accept.

57968sp · 11/11/2016 20:26

As a landlord could I explain why animals are a no-no. This applies especially if the property is furnished. Animals frequently result in damage to furniture, fixtures and fittings. It is most unlikely that any deposit would cover damage done. A replacement suite for example costs more than most deposits. Similarly with redecoration needed due to scratch marks on doors etc. Toileting accidents can ruin carpeting and other flooring, smells can linger after carpeting is replaced, furniture such as beds and suites which have had animals allowed on them smell and prevent the landlord from renting the property until thoroughly fumigated.
Pet owners do not understand nose blindness plus some potential tenants are actually allergic to pets.
If you want to have pets then buy your home. If you wish or need to rent then understand that animals are unacceptable to a landlord who cares about providing a high standard of accommodation.