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

One of my friends did this when she moved to London, through trusted housesitters, it's viable and a great idea. After a few months she got her own place.

What about putting a notice on Facebook community page, or Next door website? Explain you need accommodation until you've found somewhere permanent.

The CCJ will come off your credit record after a certain number of years, are you not able to explain the circumstances? I know you can add a note to your credit file to add details of the circumstances under which it arose.

I live in a rural area too, but I'd take in a lodger if I saw there was a need, people don't always advertise.

I know you've said no to camping but there are lots of very small sites across the country, administered by the Caravan and Camping Club (max 15 pitches allowed) or the Caravan and Motorhome Club ( max 5 pitches). You do have to be a member. Probably the CCC would be best for you. Membership is around 40 pounds but the sites often don't ask for proof of membership. These small sites are often on farms, sometimes in people's gardens if the have a paddock/large garden and are a lot safer then big commercial sites. They are rarely full even in peak season.
Look on searchforsites.co.uk for Caravan and camping club certificated sites in your area. There are probably a lot of them and the owners are often very flexible with people staying.
Good luck and I hope you get back on your feet soon.

A ccj doesn’t stop you renting. God knows I’d have been homeless for many years if it did.
if you’re female, look on gumtre/facebook/local notice boards for rooms in exchange for babysitting two nights a week. I lived in a a huge house in a posh part of london for many years at £45 a week cos I was willing to babysit and feed the 2 kids of an evening whilst landlady worked two evenings a week. She knew she had a trusted responsible tenant who the kids liked and that the house was secure. You just have to sacrifice for a short while. Check your workplace noticeboard if they have one too.

op, any update?