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AIBU?

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Original poster

Housing

39 replies

Nottodaythanku · 17/07/2023 17:20

Looking for ideas.
my son who is a teacher is Surrey he can’t find anywhere to live, his landlord is selling the flat he is in now.
he’s applying for everything and everything but keeps been out bid.
house shares, bedsits, studios, key worker accommodation.
he may have to give up his job and not go back in September if he can’t find any where, although this would be breaking his contract
we live in another part of the country so staying with us is not an option.
he’s single so his budget isn’t huge even though he works 3 jobs.
how is this fair!
if anyone has any suggestions I would be so greatful.

OP posts:
LulooLemon · 17/07/2023 17:25

It's a ridiculous situation when teachers and nurses cannot afford to rent or buy somewhere to live.

I can only suggest he explains the situation to the head at his school. There might be a network of colleagues at other schools that he could be put in touch with. Someone somewhere might be really glad of a lodger to help them pay their mortgage.

Wishing him good luck.

Tooyoungtofeelthisold · 17/07/2023 17:29

Can he try to council accommodation?
He isn't able to house himself and it sounds like he's on the cusp of homelessness.
I'm so sorry the country is broken, how can degree holding members of our society, not afford to house themselves? ....let alone those with 3 flipping jobs.

VegetablesFightingToReclaimTheAubergieneEmoji · 17/07/2023 17:35

It’s madness out there, solidarity from one renter to another . It really is untenable. we have families in caravan parks near me, it’s about £850- £1000 a month to rent. Some are nicer than others.

house boats are another one, £1200-1500 a month. Some are really lovely. You’d need to speak to marinas directly though as they don’t advertise on rightmove.

councils are sadly unlikely to help even if he is classed as homeless.

it’s an absolute disgrace. Last resort private school job with a house, but he’s in the wrong time of year to be looking.

Original poster
Nottodaythanku · 17/07/2023 17:35

@Tooyoungtofeelthisold hadn’t even thought of the council. Thank you.

OP posts:
Winter2020 · 17/07/2023 17:41

Sorry to hear this.
Could he speak to the head and get permission to e-mail all staff looking fir lodgings until he finds somewhere permanent. Someone might have a spare room or annexe and danch a few extra quid. He can point out they can do this under the "rent a room" scheme without tax implications.

https://www.gov.uk/rent-room-in-your-home/the-rent-a-room-scheme

Rent a room in your home

Renting a room in your home out - Rent a Room Scheme, types of tenancy or licence, rent, bills, tax and ending a letting

https://www.gov.uk/rent-room-in-your-home/the-rent-a-room-scheme

LIZS · 17/07/2023 17:48

There will be house shares, try openrent and socialmedia

BodegaSushi · 17/07/2023 17:53

Whoever decided to start the trend of 'bidding' for a rental needs to be drawn and quartered.

The last time I rented was 3 years ago, and it was the same process as all the previous times. Done in order of viewing and deposit being paid. You see it, you like it, you pay the deposit. Then they stop advertising while they check you meet the brief.

Now I'm seeing tiktoks of people being outbid on a property by someone whose parents paid TWO YEARS upfront.

It's a joke.

towriteyoumustlive · 17/07/2023 18:03

Nottodaythanku · 17/07/2023 17:20

Looking for ideas.
my son who is a teacher is Surrey he can’t find anywhere to live, his landlord is selling the flat he is in now.
he’s applying for everything and everything but keeps been out bid.
house shares, bedsits, studios, key worker accommodation.
he may have to give up his job and not go back in September if he can’t find any where, although this would be breaking his contract
we live in another part of the country so staying with us is not an option.
he’s single so his budget isn’t huge even though he works 3 jobs.
how is this fair!
if anyone has any suggestions I would be so greatful.

How on earth is he managing another two jobs on top of teaching?!?!? Full time teaching can be 60 hours a week during term time!

If he's exhausted the likes of spareroom.co.uk where he could be someone's lodger, and he has sent out an email at school asking if any of his colleagues know of a room or flat to rent, then his next option is the council.

BUT... check what the council require to be offered a home. In most areas the council basically request the tenant stays put and keeps paying the rent until the landlord issues an S21, takes it to court then issues a bailiff eviction. As he is a single male then he might be lucky as he would only require a bedsit/studio rather than a property with bedrooms.

thatsn0tmyname · 17/07/2023 18:05

Ask the school if anyone is interested in having a lodger. We've had a few requests. He'll need to go back in September as he needs to give notice before leaving.

BMW6 · 17/07/2023 18:19

Winter2020 · 17/07/2023 17:41

Sorry to hear this.
Could he speak to the head and get permission to e-mail all staff looking fir lodgings until he finds somewhere permanent. Someone might have a spare room or annexe and danch a few extra quid. He can point out they can do this under the "rent a room" scheme without tax implications.

https://www.gov.uk/rent-room-in-your-home/the-rent-a-room-scheme

Great idea! With mortgage rates rising the chances are one of his colleagues has a spare room and could benefit from the tax free rental income!

19lottie82 · 17/07/2023 18:23

I very much doubt he would have any luck with the council as a single male.

in my opinion his best options would be lodger / house share, or could he look a bit further afield and commute?

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 17/07/2023 18:24

As a single working male I doubt very much that the council will help him. He has no children and will be not considered vulnerable because of his sex. As he's working they'll just expect him to buy or rent.

My son was in the same situation and now has to house share.

Letsgetouttahere2023 · 17/07/2023 18:26

This country is so broken. I'm so sorry for your son. Being a working man is so hard in modern UK

TheYearOfSmallThings · 17/07/2023 18:33

I agree with those saying the council won't help house a competent and solidly employed adult. He will need to find a houseshare, and if he keeps looking he will be able to do so.

If he is over 40 there are specific sites for tenants who want to share with others their age.

Ginmonkeyagain · 17/07/2023 18:35

A single man in employment is unlikely to get council accomodation in Surrey.

Can the school help? There may be spare rooms going that aren't on the main sites.

Letsgetouttahere2023 · 17/07/2023 18:49

Better to be on benefits then

Freshair87 · 17/07/2023 18:50

Could shared ownership be an option? Some 1 beds the deposit needed is only about 5k could he scrape/borrow that then the mortgage needed is much lower, places I've seen with rent and mortgage together it isn't anymore than normal rent you would pay

maddiemookins16mum · 17/07/2023 18:51

Maybe he can try homeshare uk and sharemyhome, it’s where you house share with an older person. Worth a look.

Ohmylovejune · 17/07/2023 18:53

Look into houseshares.

Also, as he has friends and coworkers that know him, ask if any would be prepared to take a lodger into a room and houseshare. They themselves might have mortgage rises on the horizon and be happy to accommodate someone they already know (and know has a decent income to pay!)

Original poster
Nottodaythanku · 17/07/2023 19:01

@towriteyoumustlive
its awful he works 7.30 till 4.30 mon to fri
does tutoring a couple of evenings a week then workingin a pub on fri, sat and sun nights.
hes on about quitting teaching and coming home

OP posts:
LeavesOnTrees · 17/07/2023 19:02

Has he tried social media and other websites like Gumtree?
Also asking around locally and putting up notices in shops and maybe the library.
He could also look online for others in his situation and rent somewhere bigger as a house share, ie set up his own house share.

He should definitely let the head teacher know.

Babyroobs · 17/07/2023 19:04

Nottodaythanku · 17/07/2023 17:35

@Tooyoungtofeelthisold hadn’t even thought of the council. Thank you.

He will not be any kind of priority as a single male.

Babyroobs · 17/07/2023 19:05

Nottodaythanku · 17/07/2023 19:01

@towriteyoumustlive
its awful he works 7.30 till 4.30 mon to fri
does tutoring a couple of evenings a week then workingin a pub on fri, sat and sun nights.
hes on about quitting teaching and coming home

This is so sad to read. Things are just terrible for young people right now. I have four at home, the eldest 2 really need to move out but cannot afford to rent or buy.

Ohmylovejune · 17/07/2023 19:06

Can't he come home and teach at a school near you?

It's terrible this is the situation but if he can do that and save a deposit for a house then buy when he is ready in a more affordable area.

HeckinBamboozled · 17/07/2023 19:10

He can try local housing associations. Sometimes they have housing for key workers. I've know to single men who've got one needs this way.