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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to move house because of covid?

31 replies

musicforsnorks · 06/07/2020 19:41

I rent in a very beautiful place, my home isn't ideal, but the area is outstanding and difficult to find accommodation in. I worked quite hard and spent a lot to get there, and whilst not perfect, I considered it a decent start.

I am self employed, wfh, but really do need to take on about 16 hrs a week employed work to live comfortably. I was planning to find the work before covid turned up! I also have to use public transport a lot.

I have a friend who lives in a fairly deprived ex industrial town, owns her house and has suggested I live in with her to help me out, whilst sharing bills. sounds fantastic financially, and I've lived with her before and we get on fabulously. I would not have to seek any extra work if I move in with her, it would be great for me financially.

however, I have a few worries. House next door to her was a HMO and has just been bought again, possibly to be another HMO......she did have horrendous issues with noise from that. There are some other noise issues as well.
The town is very different to my own place and not the most friendly place in the world, it is also suffering from a lack of investment and poverty.

would you do it, in order to save up and not have to worry about finding part time work?
or is this madness?

my own place is too small, a tiny bedsit-style thing and also suffers from not very good soundproofing, but I don't know!

wwyd?

OP posts:
Original poster
musicforsnorks · 06/07/2020 21:05

bump? Blush

OP posts:
PinkiOcelot · 06/07/2020 21:08

HMO?

mindutopia · 06/07/2020 21:16

No, I wouldn’t. I’d find a way to live more affordably (rent a room but with someone else in an area you like) or figure out a way to bolster your income in the longer term. If you are already self employed, it makes sense to expand what you do, do better marketing, be more creative to bring in business, cut costs, etc than seek additional part time work. In the long run, it should mean your business is more successful and profitable.

Ilikewinter · 06/07/2020 21:17

Humm thats a tough one, if you move in with your friend is it save up and move on or are you planning on staying long term?

Could be worth it for the short term but i like my own space too much to be sharing!!

I think ultimately location would win out for me having lived with noisy neighbours and in a rough town...on balance i think id stay put and look for part time work and then a bigger place - on my own.

ShyTown · 06/07/2020 21:20

Deprived, ex industrial, not friendly, noise issues from the HMO next door... your description makes it sound like a pretty awful area to live in but I guess it comes down to how critical your financial situation is and whether finding more work is realistic right now.

FatherBrownsBicycle · 06/07/2020 21:41

I wouldn’t move next door to a noisy HMO. I’ve lived next to noisy neighbours, it affected my health mentally and physically.

JammyHands · 06/07/2020 21:43

HMO = house in multiple occupation eg let to students or to people who just rent one room.

Porcupineinwaiting · 06/07/2020 21:45

Do you anticipate finding or completing 16 hours a week of work problematic? Would it be easier or more difficult to find the work if you lived with your friend?

RedLlama · 06/07/2020 22:04

Nope, noise pollution is horrendous to live with

MamaFirst · 06/07/2020 22:12

I would consider it, if your friend understood its a short-mid term plan in order to save money, not a long term plan that she would come to rely on you for. You should make sure working from home would be realistic too, how sharing the house would make that doable.
But if so, why not, the only thing you'd have to lose would be your tiny bedsit that isn't terribly practical for you anyway. Even six months you could presumably save a fair amount more than in your current situation.

WanderingMilly · 06/07/2020 22:15

No, I would stay put. For me, location is very important...especially if you work from home. Noisy neighbours and an unfriendly neighbourhood aren't worth the drop in rent.

There will be opportunities to make some extra money or get some hours doing something, I'd work on finding the work. Could you do something like supermarket hours or similar, just to bring in a few more pennies so you can concentrate on building up your business?

Original poster
musicforsnorks · 06/07/2020 22:28

thanks for your thoughts.

to answer a few questions:
I really would prefer to do 16 hours work. I'd had it planned, plus driving lessons for some time.
I would prefer this to moving to an area that depresses me.
im familiar with the area and would never actually rent in it - high rents, bad housing.

I only fear the work element due to covid. worried I won't get a job easily.

where I live is beautiful. my place is a bit unsuitable but I saw it as a good start.
I do have about 20k savings, so I am not critical or facing homelessness.
I just wanted to try to not overspend.

so it would be a great saving for me to move in with her, but I would miss my place in the national park. there are too many tourists but it is glorious!

id be happy to do most work, really. just worried they wouldn't employ me as I've been self employed for so long and not in regular job market.

OP posts:
Original poster
musicforsnorks · 06/07/2020 22:33

oh and the HMO usually young low income men. sadly even when they're lovely people the 24-7 lifestyle just makes it really noisy. its such a small house and people are living on top of each other there:(

my place is quite noisy too, traffic and tourism, but its a different type of feeling. hard to explain. I'm surrounded by all walks of life and culture, the depressed town is just...stagnant. its not a nice thing to say, i know, but its not great.

OP posts:
Zararose9x · 06/07/2020 22:52

Personally I would consider it, but with a specific timeframe like 12-18months. Then still try to find extra work to add to your savings to look at buying your own place (if that’s a possibility of course).

How does your friend find it living there though?

Jaxhog · 06/07/2020 23:18

I'd stay put.

Original poster
musicforsnorks · 06/07/2020 23:26

friend isn't happy there but will only be able to move in a few years.
sadly it isn't easy to find decent priced places where I currently live (mainly second homes, holiday cottages) so I could not guarantee ever going back for certain.
that could leave me heartbroken as I love the surrounding countryside so much it feels like a part of my blood.

I do think I need to up the income, I think my temptation to live with friend is based on fear, especially of the virus getting in way of work, ect.

thanks everyone.

OP posts:
TW2013 · 06/07/2020 23:37

If you don't move in will she find someone else? If not then why not park the idea for a few months and reevaluate. It does sound though as if your heart is where you are now. I would only move if it was part of a clear plan to get back to where you are now. How would moving affect time spent on public transport? Is that time that can be channelled into working more?

Saladmakesmesad · 06/07/2020 23:45

It really doesn't sound like you want to move there but are tempted by being 'sensible'. Well looking after your mental health by having a nice place to live is sensible too. If you were struggling then maybe, but now? No way.

Original poster
musicforsnorks · 07/07/2020 00:39

thanks.
whilst it is true that I thought the move would be 'sensible', I also fear that I would regret how hard I worked to get where I am. it isn't perfect, but it is fairly unique!
I also fear that if I move in with friend, I may also get inertia, and not feel as impelled to work forward. I would save on monthly rent, but be back to square one. I could save up, yes, but not by a great amount. I would not like to do that long term.

I think that I will focus on trying to find some work and concentrate my energy into my self employment more. it isn't as tempting as being rent-free, but does giver me many more options in the long term.

OP posts:
Original poster
musicforsnorks · 07/07/2020 00:40

bloody covid!

OP posts:
copperoliver · 07/07/2020 00:56

I would not go. X

PhilCornwall1 · 07/07/2020 05:24

HMO next door? It could be the best house going, but with that next door it would be a no.

Mascotte · 07/07/2020 05:31

I'd stay where you are. Better to be poorer than miserable in your home, as long as you can get by.

Find more work be it employed or self employed and enjoy your surroundings.

jackdaw141 · 07/07/2020 06:34

@musicforsnorks

thanks for your thoughts.

to answer a few questions:
I really would prefer to do 16 hours work. I'd had it planned, plus driving lessons for some time.
I would prefer this to moving to an area that depresses me.
im familiar with the area and would never actually rent in it - high rents, bad housing.

I only fear the work element due to covid. worried I won't get a job easily.

where I live is beautiful. my place is a bit unsuitable but I saw it as a good start.
I do have about 20k savings, so I am not critical or facing homelessness.
I just wanted to try to not overspend.

so it would be a great saving for me to move in with her, but I would miss my place in the national park. there are too many tourists but it is glorious!

id be happy to do most work, really. just worried they wouldn't employ me as I've been self employed for so long and not in regular job market.

Would you be moving from Ambleside to Whitehaven?
Original poster
musicforsnorks · 07/07/2020 12:30

@Jackdaw141 very close to Ambleside, and the move would be to a neighbourhood around Preston.

OP posts:
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