To think renting as single mum is horrific

[Blueysmum12]

My bff is a single mum to two young boys. She works in a nursery and gets universal credits. She has a small dog who she got when she split with her husband and is her baby.

she’s lived in the same house for 6 years, rent paid every month on time etc.

the owner is selling their house and obviously she has to move. Between us we have rang 40 properties in this town and surrounding villages. Not one will accept her because she’s either on in universal credits and she has a dog.

the council rang today and said they suggest she takes anything and rehomes her dog because they will put her in a bnb for around 8 months.

I would have her dog, but I have a cat and a dog and 3 kids already, my husband isn’t keen.

I feel so bad for her. She’s lost weight, she looks an anxious mess.

:(

The issue is that EVEN if you're not allowed to say an outright no to tenants on UC or who have a pet, landlords DO have the right to choose who to rent to, and will just pick someone who doesn't have pets/has UC. It's impossible to claim discrimination, they will just find another reason 🤷‍♀️ rightly or wrongly, landlords will choose the person/s they feel are of least "risk" so without pets and with a joint income.

I say this as someone who not only works in this sector, but also as a single mum who gets tax credits and who has a pet dog

The housing crisis is hitting all single women hardest, including single mums. I'm sorry to hear about your friend. The council are right - they will eventually find her a social tenancy but she'll end up doing nearly a year in emergency accommodation first and if it's possible to avoid that it would be better for the mental health of her and her children. It's sad about the dog but it's the best course of action

I agree that agent is talking bullshit.

@Faithin that is incorrect - lots of TA for families in many parts of the country is still one room style.

Did she get any child-support from her ex-husband because that strikes me as being in the most logical solution to this problem. I made my ex signed to be a guarantor and ensured that his child-support covered the full rent and that was literally the only solution at the beginning.

when everything was sorted out later on I made sure that I paid £200 a month into a savings account with the right to buy ISA and bought. Took years though.

Well my kids have done much more damage than the dog or cats over the years. Yes lying is a desperate strategy but giving up your dog is awful and has consequences too.

She needs to get a letter from her landlord that she is being evicted and get on the housing list and get homed that way. She needs to be persistent.

I also successfully hid both a cat and a dog, the house was always absolutely spotless and did not smell nor was it damaged therefore what I may or may not have running around it is absolutely nobody’s business.

Having the dog is turning a hard task into an impossible one.
Agree to take the dog.
Then try again.

@bingbummy yes she will but she'll go through the temporary accommodation system first. And will also be advised to overstay her tenancy and wait to be legally evicted because of the shortage of housing . That will put w black mark against her for future tenancies

I think that the low income and two small dc will also be problematic to be honest without the dog.

Your friend should look for private rents as well as through agencies.

I agree with approaching land owners as they tend to rent to people with pets more often. But why on earth do renters talk on pets knowing their situation is always temporary?

It’s horrendous for everyone. Flat share, bedsore, hmo, have literally 100s of applicants within hours of going live. They then can demand extraordinary things to secure a place- 6months rent in advance for an unsecured sublet? 🤷🏻‍♀️

The type of person who allows their dog to chew shutters claw furniture and piss on carpet and not sort it out before leaving would have destroyed your house anyway.

The pets are not a problem. It's the scumbag people.

I agree. Just don't tell them about the dog. There is literally no evidence of a dog in my house beyond their food bowls.

Surely she would be better having the dog fostered or looked after by family and going into temporary accommodation for eight months until she can be offered permanent housing. We’ve looked after a dog in similar circumstances and would have kept her permanently if her family hadn’t been able to take her back.

It does seem like a very risky thing to do, especially when you add in being in benefits to having children and being a single parent.

It's hard for anyone renting on uc not just single parents.
More and more landlords are selling up too and yes lots won't take dogs.

Renting as a couple is crazy so renting as a single woman must be near on impossible.

I hope she finds something, I really feel for her.

Really?!! It says mums? Single mums? I doubt it that would be sex discrimination.

Anyway she's going to have to reconsider the dog, pets make renting impossible.

How on earth would she get found out?!

You get 2-3 days notice that they are doing a property inspection. You can't just turn up. Even if they did, there's nothing at all in ANY contract to say your friend with a dog can't just visit!!!

Awful situation ,my family lost their home in the summer ,landlord selling.They were moved to a 2 bed flat very small for 3 adults and 3 children but they are grateful as has its own bathroom and kitchen .2 of the children have special needs.They have been told they will be waiting at least 18 months.Their furniture is in storage.Rabbits rehomed and cats went to a charity.They pay for the cats food etc but will be able to have them back one day.Sorry but the dog will have to go as emergency housing does not allow animals.Some places only use B and B which even for families is for months.Dire situation.

OP, how tied is she to her location? Would loving somewhere less expensive be feasible?

Do you feel able to post the approximate area she is looking in, OP? Some of us may be able to help. Has she spoken to Shelter?

People shouldn't have to give up pets that are part of their family. It's so wrong on all levels.
I had to give up my 2 15 year old cats to a shelter because I couldn't find a foster home for them. They were old and slowing down and I feel so guilty I abandoned them but I was forced into it because I had to have a home for my child. No one should be put in that situation. I offered to pay an insurance to cover in the rare circumstance that one of my old cats ruined something but even that was refused.
When I moved I inherited an ill treated cat and no one is going to make me give him up.
I lied in the end and said I had no pets, I put him in a cattery for 2 weeks when I moved and every time I had an inspection he goes in for the night.
I don't like doing it but I'm not going to be tarred with the same brush that us pet owners destroy homes.
I already lost my 2 cats that I'd had since they were babies, they should have lived out their old age with me, not in Battersea.

I so wish that the UK was like other countries in Europe and much more open about renting with dogs. Here in Italy it just wouldn't be a problem, and they're such a part of the family that giving them up is heartbreaking. I'd definitely reach out to rehoming charities and ask if they have a network of fosterers who can step in until she gets sorted.