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

Well other people do it and manage so I don't see why you'd be any different for a short while...... hell in some parts of the world whole families live in their cars.

Order a car bed like this and travel light So you don't end up with a load of clutter......also have loads of those powerbanks, you can charge at work so you can watch TV or use them to power a travel kettle.

What sort of job is it if you don't mind me asking ??

You won't be paying off your CCJ?

Have you not learnt anything? That's going to get you nowhere with private renting in the future.
You sound incredibly naive. I don't know what you want from this thread.

Your new employer will need to send your details, including your address to HMRC to link your new employment to your existing NI and tax records, and the tax office will need to send you your new tax code in the post. So they will need a correct address immediately.

Please go to the council and present as homeless, and tell them you will be sleeping in your car otherwise. You seem naive about the huge implications of what you are considering, and leaping to the very worst thing you could do.

Have you considered explaining to your employer? They may be able to help by perhaps giving you an advance, or helping you find somebody willing to take in a lodger?

This I meant.

There is no way in hell this new job is worth what you are attempting to do, and if your work finds out (they will) they will be extremely concerned for you.

@ForTidyFinch You need to realise the consequences of giving this new job a false address. Google it. As concerned as they may be, they can (and will probably) dismiss you instantly.

An eviction doesn’t stop you getting rentals. The CCJ might.

The official, council advice if you are about to be made homeless is to stay in your rental. I know this as I’ve been through it.

What profession or occupation do you work in? There are industry specific charities that might be able to help with financial hardship. Look at Turn2Us or Lightning Reach.

Hello everyone
We've had a number of reports from people concerned about this thread so, as we usually do in these circs, we're putting our heads round the door with some important reminders.

Right now we can't see any evidence to indicate that the OP isn't above board – if we did, we'd remove the thread straight away. But the truth is that, sadly, we at MNHQ can't know with 100% certainty that any poster is genuine, no matter who they are or how long they have been here. As frustrating as it is, we're not able to vouch for anyone here.

So we always ask users to remember that not everyone on the internet is who they say they are – and remind folk not to give more to another poster, either financially (in cash or gifts) or emotionally (in time or care and support) than they'd be prepared to lose if things went wrong. Though, we strongly advise against parting with any cash or giving away your personal details, and if you receive a PM which makes you uneasy - report it to us and we’ll take a look.

We've compiled some useful links posted by Mumsnetters into a financial issues webguide, so that people experiencing difficulties can find all the relevant information in one place.

Sorry to hijack your thread briefly there, OP – we really hope you get it all sorted soon.

OP have you looked at your rights regarding eviction?

Is the rental in the place you have the job?

I can’t believe the number of people being unfairly shouty and dismissive of OP.

She needs help not lecturing.

Nowhere has she asked for anything but advice.

1. Car is already parked legally is a quiet space which isn't overlooked by houses. I have blacked out windows in the back so can get changed there. Leisure centre is walkable - so is job. All in the small town where I currently live. Yes being noticed is a fear. I would have to be very careful. I'm not doing anything illegal but I wouldn't want it known.

1. I have a kitchen at work. Toilets at work and leisure centre. No bowel or bladder problems. If I get ill I suppose I go to the Dr like anyone else. Since looking for a van I have started to realise there are quite a few people living in vans in the area. Presumably they also get ill despite not living in a house?

1. Sorry this sounds a bit scaremongery it's not illegal to be homeless or not have a permanent address despite the many posters trying to convince me otherwise. I will not need to lie to my new employer at the time of signing all my paperwork I will not yet be homeless

1. Yes this is my fear though my new job also pays more so I will have a wider pool of rentals I am eligible for. I will also be less fussy ( wqs looking for a private rental with a garden and parking) and rather just take any room available.

Might be a slightly left field idea but have you thought of speaking to the local vicar? They might know someone who might be prepared to let you take a room over the summer holidays because they hate what tourism/air bnb is doing to the local area or at least let you park somewhere safe/pitch a tent in an enclosed back garden. Some churches have schemes to let homeless people sleep in their halls (usually over the winter when its cold but sometimes at other times of the year too). Even if you are a rampant atheist or belong to another religion altogether a local vicar is there for everyone in their parish not just the church goers.

You may be able to park your car overnight but many areas have by-laws which means you're not allowed to sleep there - the police can ask you to move on and fine you if you're a repeat offender.

I understand you're thinking but long term this is terrible idea and very unsafe.

Youve said you live in a tourist area but are close to any rivers or canals? I have friends who love on narrow boats on the canal if you are close to one?

I think a lot of people genuinely don’t understand how easy it actually is to end up in this sort of situation.

I wouldn’t pay off the CCJ either. It still stays on your credit file whether it’s paid or not so paying it is pointless.

Refusing to leave and being evicted by bailiffs pretty much ensures you’ll never private rent again and if you have no dependents (and even if you do) in a lot of places you’ve no chance in social housing.

The problem with staying with friends or relatives is that you’re reliant on their goodwill and there’s nothing that ruins a friendship faster than living in their home. Most people would be fine as a short term fix but for months, that’s not realistic, most people wouldn’t be happy with that.

So what do you do?

If you read my posts you would see I am not paying of my CCJ because I am applying to have the CCJ removed. I won't need to pay as the court will remove it.

@ForTidyFinch

Your short term tenancy? Explain what you mean by that.

You do know that most tenancies can only be ended by the tenant or by a court. If you don't want to go and will be homeless then tell them you're not leaving.
This depends on the exact tenancy you have - there will be some it might not apply to.

I will say it again OP - from someone who works in HR -

YOU NEED TO CONTACT YOUR NEW EMPLOYERS HR DEPARTMENT AND LET THEM KNOW THE SITUATION.

It’s part of an employers responsibility to look out for staff welfare, and they will be able to offer some options for assistance-just pick up the phone and make the call.

Regarding getting ill, I didn't mean about going to a doctor. I meant, what happens if you get genuinely ill. With a virus or flu - or something even worse - that leaves people bedbound for days - sometimes weeks? You can't be living in a broken down car if you're ill.

And yes, it is illegal to not inform your employer of your living situation / give a false address. It's why homeless people in the UK cannot get employment as they need a permanent address before they can get a job. You seem to think that because you are giving them the correct address at the time you sign the contract that you're not doing anything wrong. Please take my advice on board as you don't want to start this job and then someone finds out you're living in your car and tells your employer. Honestly, it will not end well.

Despite the challenges l think you are doing the right thing by taking the job, money is your way out of this situation.
Could you put an advert up in local shops/post office offering an elderly person companionship/help in return for a room,(you pay a reduced rate ) there are agencies you can go through that do this.
Even rurally there will be lots of older people with a spare room who may like a lodger in return for shopping/cleaning help or if frail just companionship. Maybe get a DBS check in advance?

OP if you are living in a small town then it is likely that everyone knows everyone else. You need to ask everyone that you know/come across if they know someone who has a spare room that they would be willing to let out for medium to long term. Lots of these type of arrangements are not advertised online but are often filled by word of mouth. Ask everyone you run into. The person behind the counter in newsagenet/pub/supermarket etc. I know of a few people who do rent out rooms to lodgers in my town and they never ever advertise online.

If you had a working car then whilst a terrible idea it might be doable. But I can’t see how you can do this without a working car sorry.

If everything is as bad as you say with this area then I would leave. Look for a job with accommodation anywhere in the country to get you back on your feet. Start looking for rooms and jobs now and applying. You will get job seekers or UC or something to tide you over if there’s a gap.

Thats a big scary leap. A friend just did similar after a breakup and was so scared. But day one she called me and she was over the moon. The flat mates are amazing and she’s really excited to rebuild her life.

See this is where MN is so naive.

Announce to everyone in a small town that you are in a desperate situation with regard to housing? You could not make yourself more vulnerable.

Assuming that every job has a HR department … lol. And if they do, what are they going to do? More likely that they’d withdraw the job offer. They aren’t going to say oh poor you here’s the key to a house we happen to have going spare are they?

Just do everything people have suggested.
Look everywhere up to 1.5 hrs away.
Ask your current landlord. They might know the other landlords and of other properties.
Ask your work.