To take a job an uncommutable distance from my house

[user1487622990]

I qualified as a social worker 8 months ago and have struggled to find work. I have applied for 15 jobs and had 15 interviews. My applications are brilliant and I have a 100% success rate when it comes to getting interviews. But that's where the good luck ended. I was rubbish at job interviews and just seemed to forget everything I knew and speak none sense through them all.

Finally, I got some confidence and I got a permanent job as a social worker in an area which is a 55 minute train journey from my parents house. I could therefore live at my parents house until I find suitable accommodation so I have accepted the job offer.

I currently live in Manchester and have a council house in an okay area. It's not rough but not desirable either as it's quite out of the way without much amenities.

I cannot commute to this job from my council house. It's an hour and 50 mins each way.

If I were to take this job my only options would be to either leave my council house (and secure tenancy) and move back in with my parents and apply for social housing in the area I worked (have confirmed I would be entitled to do this as my working commute means my current accommodation is unsuitable).

Or, get a mortgage on my current council house with the right to buy and rent it out and use that money to rent somewhere near my work (I've had confirmation this would be fine as long as my house would be my main home and I didn't own any others at the time of applying to buy).

I have already been given permission to buy my council house as I've lived there 7 years now. It would just be a case of getting a mortgage.
This shouldn't be too much of a problem as my income will be £28,000
And my house with discount is £70,000. No deposit needed.
I would have rather got a job near my house but unfortunately that doesn't seem likely to happen any time soon and I feel I cannot give this opportunity up. It's a permanent, professional job with a decent salary and I'm becoming depressed being unemployed.
Would I be unreasonable to take this job and attempt one of these options?
Private renting is not something I would consider. I've had a very unpleasant experience while private renting and don't want that for my son. I would choose to stay at my parents than do that.

I wouldn't be applying for a council house if I owned one. I wouldn't be entitled.

Sort if it seemed that was what I was saying.

Sorry*

Just do it - you've worked bloody hard and you deserve a break.

Excellent news! Well done, that's really great. I think taking the role and buying the house to let out is the best plan - you can then go back there if you find a job in the area. But staying with your parents works too.

And good luck with the test!

I looked into renting out my house recently, FYI as I wasn't aware - my mortgage company would have increased my interest rate by 1% and advised it was mandatory to rent through an ARLA registered estate agent who had to confirm that the tenants were neither DSS or students. You may already know all of this but it was news to me! I didn't realise they could veto potential tenants. With agent fees and the increased interest I would've had over £150 a month shortfall to make up on the mortgage payment so decided to stay put for now. Good luck with the job 👍🏼

My mortgage payment would be far lower than rent I could charge even with all the added fees and tax. It would be daft not to buy my house.

Thank you for all the replies. 😀

Look into an exchange to the area you will work in. Theres a national exchange registry, you can apply to change to a housing association in that area.

Its lovely that someones DH makes that commute but he's not a single parent so I dont see how thats relevant to your situation.

Buying and renting out is the way to go. It may well be that with some experience you will find a job back nearer home.
Often taking that first step even if there are difficulties enables other stuff to come right.

Have you checked the rules about rtb and renting - in my area, there are rules about renting out the house within a certain time frame after purchase. That might be area specific though.

Yes I've checked the rules around renting and buying in my area.

The only rule which will have a significant impact is that I have to wait 5 years to sell my house on as it's a right to buy house

Unfortunately I've had no interest in an exchange but that would be my favourite option of all. It doesn't look likely though :-(