Becoming homeless for my dream job

[ForTidyFinch]

I've been offered and ideal job in the town where I currently live but my short term tenancy is due to end in a couple of weeks. I have tried everything to find a new place to live. There is nothing available in this small town and I have no friends or family living close enough to help. I have decided to start the job and then live in my car. I've reached a desperate point now where I think there is little chance of me being able to rent privately even if something does become available. A run of bad luck has drained my finances and a CCJ was taken out against me without my knowledge (for overstaying in a service station when my car was broken down!) This was taken out while I was living abroad and I have only just found out. So there goes the chance of renting privately. So the choice I see it is being homeless and destitute staying with relatives or living in my car and starting this interesting job opportunity. I think I will live in my car. WWYD

That all sounds terribly distressing.

But you may find the following useful
https://www.reddit.com/r/preppers/comments/16n9znf/prepping_for_living_in_a_car/

https://www.reddit.com/r/urbancarliving/comments/119je87/im_living_in_my_car_for_the_first_time/

I wish you good luck.

You know you’ll need a postal address?

I do have a tent though I thought that would be worse actually. Wild camping is not legal in this area so would have to set up after night fall and be gone by day break. Would have to be setting it up and down all the time, I'd also be fearful in a tent I think. At least my car locks and doesn't need reassembled each night. As it's summer holidays even campsite are expensive at the moment.

Have you actually spoken to any campsites though? I'm in the south west in a very touristy area but there are campsites that would let me pitch in a corner of the field longer term. I don't mean ones with lots of facilities but toilet/shower block and access to laundry.

It's not a large town, it's a small town in a countryside area. There is nothing on spare room in the area. What I meant is that everyone who has a spare room has put it on air bnb. It's peak season and you can earn 100+ a night so I don't blame them.

Okay I will try this, have looked at their websites and they are charging a lot per night so I thought a longer term rent would be unfeasible.

Look for a spare room / house share - of course you can't live in your car

Will I, what for do you think?

You're going to have to broaden your commuting distance. Living in your car just isn't an option.

To give to your employer!

What about house sitting or pet care ?

Your employer will ask for your postal address for your records.

But they already have my current address and I am due to start next week. I've never been sent anything in the post by an employer apart from P45 so not sure why that would be an issue

What is the job? If I was sleeping rough I'd struggle to function well so it could impact your performance. Colleagues might also find it a bit weird.

Where could you legally live in your car? And what about showers/toilets etc. The idea is madness

It’s a ridiculous idea but you’ve obviously decided there’s no other option so your best bet is to find some online communities of people doing the same so you can get some tips.

OP this is madness. You need to

• put a message on local facebook groups, asking for any spare rooms and explain eviction
• ask your employer if you can wfh and go back to relatives further afield
• stick an ad up on facebook etc asking if there are people looking for house share so you can take on a bigger available property together
• approach air bnb owners with offer for longer term stay at discounted rate
• look further afield. Commuting for 2 hours each way is better than staying in your car.
• get in touch with your council about emergency accommodation and eviction advice

If you tell us the name of the town… or a place near to it (so not the actual place) OP , people on here do a lot of researching and may be able to help you find something??? - that’s not a car 😊

worth a try … as I think you are running out of options. Wish you lots of luck OP !

As far as I know employers have to provide your address to HMRC for payroll purposes. What if they want to send paper payslips, updates to contracts, probationary documents etc.

What would be your longer term plan - will you be able to find a room to rent come autumn?

It is doable if only through summer, but it will be depressing. You'll be stuck sitting in the car if it rains, you'll have no privacy unless parked somewhere very quiet, you'll wake up as soon as it gets light, you'll have no toilet facilities and no indoor cooking facilities. You'll be able to cook on a camping stove outside but that's not ideal if it's raining or windy. Access to water will also be tricky.
Unless you don't give a fuck what people think you will feel the stigma of being homeless and will probably feel anxious about your colleagues finding out.

I lived in a large van/small truck for four years and I found it hard at times, even though some of the above weren't issues.
Finding water was always a bit of a mission, though at least I had space for big water containers so it wasn't a daily issue.

Happy to answer any questions about this general way of life if needed

Bloody hell...That's absolutely grotesque.

Sounds like you are somewhere like Cornwall where locals are priced out by bloody Air B and B's

Barcelona has the right idea with those. {From 2028}

www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240701-what-does-a-world-without-airbnb-look-like#:~:text=With%20Barcelona%20announcing%20a%20total,city%20starting%20in%20November%202028.

What are the commutable options? Train line? Can you at least keep a home base where you are now and just stay out Monday through to Friday morning?
I'd personally advertise looking for a room.

You could consider whether it would be possible to have the CCJ set aside if you think that is a barrier to renting?

www.gov.uk/county-court-judgments-ccj-for-debt/cancel-the-judgment

Contact your local council/housing association they may be able to find you temporary accommodation. Even a hostel would be better than a car.

Can you speak to Shelter? They are meant to be very helpful and there may be options (eg council?) that you’re not aware of xx