Finished university and homeless in 3 days

[quicknamechange10]

Hello - I am a semi-regular poster and I have changed my name for this.

I apologise in advance as this is not an AIBU question, but I did not know where else to post and this board seems to have a lot of traffic so I am hoping posters may be able to help me out with providing some info or suggestions.

I have just finished a university course outside of London and need to move back to London because my student tenancy in halls has ended. Unfortunately I have found myself in a really precarious position housing-wise in that I do not have any family save for my mum and I can't stay with her as she is living in a home for vulnerable people with complex needs and her tenancy forbids it. Plus there is management on sight and they keep everything quite tightly controlled.

My friends mostly live abroad as they are international students I met at university and the friends that I do have here in the UK I can't stay with as they either have precarious housing situations themselves or (in the case of two of them) quite conservative parents who would not welcome a visitor even short term.

My plan for where I was going to move to has fallen through and I have had quite significant mental ill health throughout my course but particularly in recent months (major clinical depression), for which I am receiving counselling and I am also on a high dose of anti-depressants.

My question then, is does anyone know of any housing schemes in London that are for people who are temporarily and urgently in need of housing?

I have a small amount of money thatI could contribute each month towards rent in a shared house, or as a lodger, but it would definitely fall short of any market rates, hence looking for something subsidised.

I don't think that I will be able to claim benefits (although I am going to put in an application) and I am not in a position to be able to work full time at the moment.

Any suggestions or pointers towards subsidised housing schemes (through charitable organisations or similar) would be hugely appreciated.

Thank you ever so much for reading

Is there a student support service at your new institution? Any social media groups of students for flatshares there?

Only disabled students and those who are responsible for a child are able to get housing benefit. But it would now be universal credit.

I think you should try a house share. Surely the cheapest option?

The logical thing to do would be to contact the institution you will shortly be studying with.

If you are due to start a new course immediately can you get funding through student loan? What does the bursary cover? How were you going to fund living costs through the 8 month course?

If you want to check your options locally contact your citizens advice office www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

You may be able to claim UC but it is very limited and specific circumstances for students.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/before-you-apply/Check-if-you-can-get-Universal-Credit/

There may be hardship grants available from your uni.

What was your initial plan for housing? Can you find something similar?

Even if you get emergency temporary accommodation, what happens next?

I would definitely contact your new institution and explain your circumstance. I would think a loan may be your only answer.

this is a guardianship website but you have to be over 21 - free accommodation in exchange for making sure an empty property is OK. I have not used them I googled them.
liveinguardians.com/owners?msclkid=3d142ba31286173b92fa488eb9c64c47

A student houseshare is your best bet - my neighbours are students and 3 of them each pay £500 a month, 5 mins from the tube in Zone 3.

Can you start your next university’s accommodation earlier?

being a student is expensive, sadly. Can you look for shared university accommodation?. Perhaps you could postpone the course u til you have built up some savings after your initial degree?

Can you apply for PIP to help you? It's not a quick solution but could help long term.

What about trying Age UK. A lot of elderly people living alone but with a spare bedroom may appreciate having a young lodger, for company, security and help with housework etc

I read about this scheme ages ago, old and young were "matched" up and the cases I read about worked very well.

The old people weren't infirm, so it wasn't a caring role. They were lonely and loved having another person in the home, and the youngsters got really good, safe and inexpensive accommodation.

Look on Spareroom.com - houseshares for all budgets in all parts of London.

Will your housing situation be resolved with the new course, as in, is it an interim solution you are seeking or longer term?
What about a lodging arrangement, that would probably be most cost effective although not particularly secure.
I would try the benefits route too, would you have to declare your intention to resume studies, does it really have a bearing on matters if you are need of help now?
Hope you get it sorted.

Try the Richmond Fellowship they specialise in helping people with mental health difficulties find work, support and accommodation www.richmondfellowship.org.uk/

Some boarding schools offer live in accommodation to some of their employees, might be worth calling round and finding out if any school anywhere would consider you as a last minute live in ‘gap year student’. Also look for pet sitting and house sitting.

You probably won’t get that in 3 days though. I think you’re going to need a loan so you can afford to short-term rent a caravan or houseshare, while you sort yourself out. Can a relative/friend lend money or maybe ask bank if they can help at all.

Good luck, hope things improve.

You could speak to the chaplain of your new institution or the vicar of the parish where your mum lives. They often have community contacts and might know of spare rooms to rent.

Hi @quicknamechange10 , first of all congrats on finishing your course. I have been in your situation a few times and did/do the following at various times:-

• house-sitting for online companies (I do free site in return for free accommodation. Have lived in Brighton, Bath, Manchester and London amongst many a place and currently near Wimbledon in a long-term sit. Am v v grateful as have saved small deposit to buy a flat.
• live-in care positions. Have been a carer in the past so it was easy to find positions. I did this for a few months last year following living in my car for a few weeks.
• other live-in positions (I have worked as a governess in a couple of other countries before).

Another one a friend has done is property guardianship where she pays £500 a month to look after a swish 2 bedroom apartment in central London. Lengthy contract to sign but she’d pay £3,000 a month on the private rental market.

Good luck- if I can do it, so can you 💐

Students can claim PIP - please at least claim that.

I second LHA (lived there for years; they do discounted rates for age, and students, and are exceptionally safe (well the one I was in was)). Most of the people in them were students, and a shared room kept costs down.

However, does your new university provide accomodation?