Getting rejected for houses because we have dc

[Whatsthestitch]

Little bit of a click bait but partly true

Me and dp currently live with an abusive parent and we are trying to leave. I have had dc so can't work and am on uc. Dp works full time. Even though we have money for a depoist and holding depoist I still don't understand how we can afford to move out!

Has anyone had experience of moving out on housing benefit? How did it work for you. I can't see any landlord accepting our situation and as our budget is so small (900pcm) most flats we see say they aren't family/children suitable. I didn't even think of the possibility of landlords/ladies discriminating against children. Surely a family of 3 living in a 1 bedroom isn't that overcrowded or absurd given the current climate. I'm willing to get a part time job but even that will only be about 2 days max as it will be family looking after dc for free childcare.

Help! Seeking advice and posting for traffic

Yes this. A job even 2 days a week would surely make a difference? And no childcare cost if MIL would look after the baby.

Make it up to 3 days by working a Saturday or Sunday (assuming your partner works Mon to Fri)

Crowding 3 people into a one bed flat with increase wear and tear. There will be knock on effects for the landlord. The lower rent properties may have priced the rent at the lower end in anticipation of accepting a single person or couple in their flat. And as another poster suggested, insurance might be affected if they accept more than two people in a one bedroom flat (or they will have to pay higher premiums). The landlords can pick and choose who they want (and how many they want) in their property when it is a private rental. Local authorities/housing trusts may have different rules or policies to follow.

Also, you not working and both you and your DC in the flat all day will increase wear and tear on the flat. A professional person/couple who are out ar work all day, hence having less impact on the flat, would obviously be more appealing from a landlord’s perspective.

Also, credit history and stability in your income (hence steady employment in an established job) would be an important factor for most landlords who dont want the hassle of what to do with tenants who default on the rent (not saying you would but they will be looking at the risk of this based on your circumstances).

You literally just said you can’t afford to move out!! That’s why!

Get your boyfriend to apply for houses solo and then move in afterwards. It’s really not that difficult. You aren’t married ....start working now if your mother in law can look after your children. There is no excuse. You can put money away for furniture.

I’d prefer to rent to a single person or a couple.

Just to clarify it's not possible to do a new claim for housing benefit.

Instead your UC award will be adjusted to account for housing costs.

And absolutely you can claim the vast majority of childcare costs back when on UC.

Please go and talk to a work coach about the support available

Don’t have your partner move in solo then you move in, it’s likely they will give notice if they find out, and they will during the first inspection

if you don’t want to work you need to stay put. If you do work then you can claim rent and child care costs and move out.

it’s your call which way you go.

AIBU isn’t the right place for this OP. Just the daily mail mob telling you to work harder. This won’t help really because even if you manage to get a 2 bed the landlord can then evict you again at any time they fancy.

The reality is that this is exactly what social housing is for. Go to CAB/ real mumsnetters with experience often suggest contacting Shelter for advice.

Can you move to a cheaper area? I have a two bed flat I rent to a lady for £600 pcm. It's slightly below market rate and I'm about to put the rent up, but not to £900 pcm.

It might be worth speaking to shelter for advice on the housing stuff.

Re jobs - can you get an evening/weekend job so there are no childcare costs. I know it means not much time together/downtime, but that's how a lot of people manage it.

Also if you are on a low ish income you can get UC help with childcare costs - have a play around on entitledto. I think when I was a single mum aboutn70% of my childcare costs were covered by tax credits.

Yes phone your local Citizens Advice and ask for a benefits check.

We got through by me working a couple of days during the week and both weekend days for a few years. I won't say it was ideal, as I didn't get much time with dp, but it meant we could stay afloat financially.

If you go back to work you will be a much more attractive prospect to landlords. At the moment their fear would be that they rent you a one bed flat, then next year you have another baby, and in another few years another baby, and all stay crammed in there while waiting for the council to re-home you for overcrowding.

If you are going out to work they are more likely to believe you have a viable financial plan.

Two parents, one child, and two days free childcare from a family member on offer? You are in a much much better position childcare wise than most parents who manage to work. OP you need to get a job!
Either part time, or full time with UC childcare element.
I think you are confused about the in work benefits available that will make this possible, maybe go see the CAB for some advice?

Can you work nights or evening when dp is home to care for child?

It is all very easy if you can’t afford childcare one of you goes to work while the other stays at home. When DP finishes work you go. It really isn’t very difficult. You just have to suck it up and get on with it

A one bed is not ideal for a young family. Ll would expect singles or a couple, Do you want more children? Are you on social housing lists?

Have you got a sufficient deposit for renting?

If you save up a few months rent, then you could put down a larger deposit to demonstrate your commitment

Agree it is discrimination - the landlord is choosing to rent to someone else because of
A) the housing benefit
B) the dc
For A that is against the law so if you don't raise it, it comes up in the credit check, the landlord threatens to pull out - then you'd have a good case against them. I'm not sure B is against the law as discrimination type laws are around e.g. pregnancy, LGBT areas not families. Maybe the law should be changed! With so few rental properties at the minute there is an open door for landlords to discriminate which is not right.

You work nights/weekends or something you can do from home whilst dc is there eg I managed a large apartment block including cleaning communal spaces, collecting rent (before direct debit was common) new tenants etc worked out about 1/3 time and I got a free apartment and utilities rather than pay.

What nonsense.

No, it is not discrimination. The issue of renting while claiming UC has come up time and time again on MN.

It's not because of a child; it's because of potential overcrowding.

The issue is that you can't afford the houses you need. Landlords of 1 bedrooms have never wanted to let to families with children, and rent has gone up to a crazy degree. You need to get work so your income is higher and you look more attractive to landlords.

There is no social housing! At least not in areas where flats are £900+. It's not 'daily Mail ' to point out that they need to increase their income to access private renting.

This. DH and I both worked full time with no extended family support and no childcare. We did opposite shifts, him earlies me lates.

You need to look for jobs in catering/hospitality or factory or supermarket overnight shifts.

If your MIL is watching your ds twice a week then can’t you put your Ds in nursery 2-3 times a week so you can at least work 4-5 days a week?

Or you MIL can watch your son 2x a week, ds in nursery once a week, so you can work 3 days in the week and also work the weekend (so your dh can watch your ds).

You need to move somewhere you CAN afford. Imagine if you had a 2 bed with garden for £400 like one of the pp! Research areas, apply for jobs and relocate.

you CAN make this work, but you can’t afford to live where you are living atm.