Or am I fucked?

[pabstblueribbon]

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?

I guess they meant times the monthly rent.. Mine works out at 55 times but it's a high demand rental market here so you'd expect requirements to be higher.

£800pcm - £24k annual salary

I have a job

Woo hoo congratulations

PBR Thanks. There are plenty of LLs out there just like me. Avoid the agents because they manage properties for amateurs. There is absolutely no way that they are worth the fees they charge and its only the tenant who ends up paying through the raised rent.

You really do not need to rehome the cats. As LLs we prefer cats to dogs!

Hi I know this is an old thread now but felt I had to add my two penn'orth.
When I went into rented last March, several letting agents told me I had no hope of getting anything as I 'only' worked part-time, single parent with 4 kids. And 2 cats. They wouldn't take any of my tax credits, child benefit into account.

Then I found a lovely agency, who rent to other NHS employees like myself and said most of their tenants have top up HB purely due to the crap wages paid by the NHS and it's not a problem. They took my tax credits, child benefit, maintenance (that I'm no longer getting) into account and I pay £850 a month rent. I paid 6 weeks deposit instead of the usual month, for the cats. I am eligible to claim HB but don't as I don't feel I need to. Apparently this will stand me in good stead if I do ever need it.
Good luck OP

Do you my any chance go to any form of church? If so someone in the congregation/group might know someone who would have a flat they would be willing to rent to you, if you gave a deposit for the cats and could prove you have always paid on time.