Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Becoming homeless for my dream job

629 replies

ForTidyFinch · 17/07/2024 08:20

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
TheYearOfSmallThings · 17/07/2024 10:02

ForTidyFinch · 17/07/2024 09:45

Well this area is offering me something - a job. It's not offering me much but do you have any suggestions of other areas? My other option is to stay with family who are in an even more rural area with an even worse situation re jobs and could only offer me a sofa to sleep on. The alternative is to stay in a very expensive city on a friend's sofa. This seems to me the best option formthe situation I am in now. I am not clinging to this place I have nowhere obvious to go where the situation would be better long term

Show quote history

Yes I have suggestions of other areas - any large metropolitan area will have jobs. I would pick one somewhat near people you know, and one where you can rent inexpensively and easily (Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham etc). These probably are not your dream locations, but you can definitely get a job and afford a roof over your head. Any area which can't offer you those things is no good. If the city your friend lives in will allow you to earn enough to rent there, that is where I would go.

The reason the place you live now is offering you a job is because you applied for a job there. If you apply for jobs elsewhere, those other areas will offer you work.

Original poster
ForTidyFinch · 17/07/2024 10:02

lavendercove · 17/07/2024 09:35

I’m possibly one of the only posters replying who has sort of done this. I’ll explain a bit more.

In many ways my situation wasn’t all that dissimilar to yours. I’d actually had a run of bad luck with jobs. I had a false accusation in 2014 and although I was eventually completely cleared it took ages and during that time I was pretty much forced to resign. Finding another job proved tricky as a result although I got short term work, there was no pay parity, no pension or sick pay etc. And I did fall very unwell two years later and was in a horrendous position where I had to try to work but couldn’t really. So four years after my false accusation I decided to apply for and got a job which was on a level with my old work but was in a very expensive area of the country hence they struggled to recruit.

I actually owned my house outright due to an inheritance but selling it and buying somewhere else wasn’t an option as I couldn’t get a mortgage due to crap credit. I couldn’t private rent for the same reason.

I didn’t live in my car but I did stay in it a night or two a week. It’s pretty horrible. It’s uncomfortable, that’s the main problem. And cold, even in summer. And scary and exhausting as you sleep very fitfully and badly. So I really really would not recommend. But - equally sometimes it’s the least worst option. Realistically people do fall through the cracks and sometimes this is how it is.

If you do decide to do this I would really really urge you to have a few nights in a travel lodge or air bnb or similar. Living in your car seven days a week will destroy you. But it is doable if unpleasant sometimes.

I wish you well.

Thanks, I'm glad to hear you made it out the other side despite being in a bad situation. Something similar happened with my previous job a year ago. I see this job as an opportunity to get my life back on track in the field I was unfairly forced out of. It's feel like an opportunity I need to grab hold of. So much bad luck in the past couple of years this is one good thing I feel I need tk grab and hold on to even if it will be hard in the short term.

OP posts:
Roseshavethorns · 17/07/2024 10:02

Go to the local council and present as homeless. They have a duty to help you. It won't be ideal and probably expensive but better than living in your car.

ChubSeedsYorkie · 17/07/2024 10:03

Sorry OP but you are so naive in regards to your responses to be explaining why you need a fixed address.

You need to tell your employer an up to date address. Your driving license needs to be updated and also car insurance likely invalid too with the wrong address.

HaveAWordWithYerselfWouldYa · 17/07/2024 10:03

Sorry if this is too obvious an idea, but have you joined the local FB group or Neighbourhood groups to ask for a spare room?

We live in a "premium" area, but there are usually people that respond to ads still with a spare room

Elsvieta · 17/07/2024 10:04

Have you looked at hostels? Crap sharing a room but beats sleeping in a car.

Even if you have to drive 2hrs a day to get to work it'll beat sleeping in a car.

OriginalUsername2 · 17/07/2024 10:05

Mirabai · 17/07/2024 09:52

She said it’s a short term tenancy, in which case she may not have the same rights as long term tenants. It depends what she means by that.

Show quote history

True. I think it might be a section 8 the landlord would need - this could give the OP an extra 2 months.

OnePeachCrow · 17/07/2024 10:08

Your local council 's housing team have a duty to work with you if you are in danger of becoming homeless. They will need to advise you at least.

BumBumCream · 17/07/2024 10:09

This is fairly common where I live (SW, tourist area - if someone has a spare room it’s on Airbnb for the tourists).

MummBRaaarrrTheEverLeaking · 17/07/2024 10:11

As a short term solution I would say do it. Put plans in place regarding CCJ and the council to get the ball rolling but it's not like they're going to go ta-da, your CCJ worries are gone and here's somewhere to stay instantly.

I wouldn't pitch a tent just any old place, you don't know who's about, at least you can lock your car and get some blackout blinds so no-one can see in. Redirect your post to a relatives, and give your employer your relatives address. If you can hold it out for a couple of months we'll head into Autumn/Winter, and hopefully the tourists will bugger off and the room rates will go down to give you somewhere to stay.

You have a job offer, and it sounds like a decent job to give you the opportunity to work your way out of this. For the sake of a couple of months in the car vs sofa surfing with either no job or a low end job with no prospects I would take the car. Good luck OP Flowers

Edit to say that's a good idea about spending the odd night in a travelodge etc as well for a proper rest.

EarthSight · 17/07/2024 10:12

ForTidyFinch · 17/07/2024 08:39

There is nothing currently available anywhere close enough to commute. It's a countryside area. And even if something does come up it's unlikely they will allow me to rent with this CCJ!

Show quote history

Do you have enough money to give them 6 months rent in advance? They might be ok with that.

Jujubeez · 17/07/2024 10:13

Have you looked into property guardianship?

Also, I second other posters please get some proper advice from shelter and present to the council.

Original poster
ForTidyFinch · 17/07/2024 10:16

Amonthinthecountry · 17/07/2024 09:56

Slightly left field suggestion but are you in an area with canals? If so, you could ask at a marina if they are aware of any boaters who might like to rent out their boat on a short-term informal basis. I think you can get around the issue with your post by just using a family member’s address as a “care of” address.

Very interesting suggestion that I hadnt thought of, there are no canals here but there are plenty of boats in marinas. I will get on to this today.

OP posts:
Daddydog · 17/07/2024 10:16

You should easily be able to get the CCJ set aside to rent privately. Same thing happened to me, I got an unexpected bill as the company sent it to the wrong address, one I never even lived at. It was only when I was trying to rent a flat I was shocked to see this CCJ when I checked my own credit report. Strangely I passed the letting agents credit check even with it! I spoke to the court straight away and was able to have the CCJ set aside that day so I could have my say in court. Claimant didn't show (they never bother as it's not worth their time) so case dismissed. 4 years later I went to buy a house and my solicitors could still see a CCJ on Equifax but my Experian account was showing it was removed and excellent/999. Spoke to court again and turns out they forgot to press a button and it was removed within the hour.

Miffylou · 17/07/2024 10:16

ForTidyFinch · 17/07/2024 08:56

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

Show quote history

And what will happen to any mail sent to your current address?

user1492757084 · 17/07/2024 10:17

At least you have your job.
Once working, maybe contacts through work will prove useful.
Save and put a deposit on the smallest property you can buy.

Also think of buying a campervan, investigating house sitting, tenting in a caravan park, companion to old person (attend churches and make yourself known.)

Isthiscorrect · 17/07/2024 10:17

I know you don't want to say where it is but everyone has offered suggestions because, we as a team, actually do want others to succeed.

Spareroom.co.uk always have places to stay. Some short term. Some long term and they won't be worried about a CCJ.

I think you need to tell us more so we are better able to help you turn this mindset around.

Movinghouseatlast · 17/07/2024 10:17

The holiday letting market is not good at the moment. In my very touristy area a lot of properties are empty and reducing rates, spare rooms aren't selling because you can get a cottage for the same price.

You might find that once you are there you will find a rental. In my village there is nothing on Rightmove to rent but people get things by word of mouth.

I once lived in a tent on a campsite for 2 months and eventually found a room in a house. Long time ago, but it's worth approaching the campsite rather than looking online.

DinosaurWhizz · 17/07/2024 10:18

I would stay in the house and let the landlord evict you through the courts. Chances are you'd get a few months which might be enough to get an off season let or find somewhere else.
Long term I would move elsewhere where accommodation is cheaper and easier to find. This situation doesn't sound sustainable. I don't see how it can be a dream job when it pays so badly. I don't think you will be happy living in a car and chances are you will end up losing the job as well as being exhausted and stressed.
In the short term you could look for a live in job.

yumyum33 · 17/07/2024 10:19

I have no advice or solutions but just wanted to wish you all the best with this new pathway you've found yourself on. I hope you get a lucky break soon to help you find somewhere safe to stay for a while. Good luck with the job.

TheShiningCarpet · 17/07/2024 10:19

Your life is chaos my friend….

ttcat37 · 17/07/2024 10:22

ForTidyFinch · 17/07/2024 08:54

Will I, what for do you think?

Show quote history

Did you not learn from your CCJ? You need to have a postal address. I presume your car wasn’t registered to your postal address and you missed all the tickets and threats of court that came through? What do you think would happen if you got another ticket somewhere without knowing?

I wouldn’t recommend sleeping in a car long term- your back will be shot and your sleep quality will be really poor. If I was forced to sleep in my car and couldn’t afford a camper etc, I’d sell my car and buy a small van which had already been boarded out. High mileage ones aren’t too much. You can put a small mattress in the back, put a bit of storage up, get a leisure battery for a fan if you need it. Ventilation and keeping warm is a bit more complicated but I’d be fine personally over the summer. With a cheap camping stove you can boil a kettle and have hot water bottles, hot drinks etc.

Blackthorne · 17/07/2024 10:24

Could you get in touch with the local MP in the area and explain your predicament. They would be best placed to know of emergency housing you might be able to access or ar least point you in the right direction.

WhereIsTheHare · 17/07/2024 10:25

ForTidyFinch · 17/07/2024 08:54

Will I, what for do you think?

Show quote history

National Insurance
Income Tax
Your banking, so you can have your salary paid to you
Doctor and dentist registration (your NHS number)
Electoral roll (important for rebuilding your credit score)

Just off the top of my head

Tgjjl · 17/07/2024 10:29

Your family might not live close enough for you to stay, but can they lend money? Living in your car for a job sounds mad. You do need an address.