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

Where are you working now - can you just continue there and find somewhere to live?

If it is a small town - is there any friends/ renting a room that you could do?

Is this dream job available elsewhere (near other family or friends)?

I personally wouldnt live out of my car.

Hi OP. I think a lot of people on here are very naive about the housing pressures in very touristy parts of the country. I was wondering if you’ve read a book by Catriona Davies called Why I Live In A Shed ? It’s about the writer’s experience of homelessness in Cornwall. Beautifully written. I’d recommend it.

Unlike others, I don’t have any good answers I’m afraid. Except to say that I know a lot more people do this than most people realise, and I hope it will just be a temporary blip for you. Would it be possible to ask your new employer for an advance on your wages, which you could use to put a down payment on a larger vehicle like a van which you could get on finance? If not then I think maybe boatsitting might be the way to go - I hope something like that arises for you soon.

What about when your car needs an MOT?

Yes this is exactly what I fear.

Current workplace much further away in a remote location have had to get taxis and hire cars to get there since car had issues. This new job is an improvement in every respect.

Might be a long shot, but look for property guardian schemes in your area. You get cheap rent in exchange for living in places that would otherwise be abandoned such as old schools. Also get signed up to every home sitting and pet sitting service. You may get lucky and find someone who needs help locally!

You keep saying CCJ will
Stop you getting something.
It won't. There are council houses and private with tenants who have been in jail, are bankrupt etc. You need to go to the council as others have pointed out. They will find you accomodation somewhere. You haven't started work so u should be getting a benefit that helps you sort your car out. Ask your new job if they can hold back the start date a few weeks just till
You get on your feet.
But it sounds like you have made up your mind anyways that you will be in your car.
And the new employer will have problems with HMRC when they try to tax you with your wages.

Nearly whole year until that's needed. Just passed it recently

What are you going to do when the police find you and move you on?

Just because you can park somewhere doesn't mean you can live there.

Can you explain what the problem will be with HMRC, several people have mentioned this. But my tax will be PAYE. Even the tax refund I got for last year was done through my online account. What is the issue?

Perfect example of cutting off your nose to spite your face. Surely paying it off even if it’s an unfair fine to open up your options is better than living in your car. But you have already made up your mind on what you’re going to do so I’m not sure what you want from this thread.

To answer your direct WWYD, I would move to an area which can provide me with the basics, a job and a roof over my head. Living in a car is not sustainable, it really isn't. Yes you can use gym membership to have a shower, but can you realistically do that every morning before work? I am assuming you are a woman which makes you particularly vulnerable, but even if you are male, you will struggle to sleep comfortably and without fear, basically sleeping with one eye open - making it more difficult for you to function effectively at work. Perhaps try it for a couple of nights before your tenancy runs out, to get a feel for how it will work logistically and in practice. Honestly if I didn't have strong family ties to an area, I would forgo this job for now - there will be other jobs in other areas, and start afresh elsewhere.

No because I will still have a CCJ on my credit file. Getting it removed is by far the most sensible option no matter how angry it makes you. Homeless and poor people exist. I have had lots of usefull advice from this thread from other posters

Paying off a CCJ doesn't make it disappear and could still prevent me from renting. Having it removed will give me a clean slate

What will your income be per month?

This makes no sense whatsoever. Your car just passed its MOT but now it’s not working? Well it needs fixing surely? As a priority. Then you need to get a map and look at places less than two hours away and drive to blooming work. I don’t understand why it’s so difficult.

Just a few questions that spring to mind:

What is your short term tenancy and what is the reason the landlord has given you for not being able to stay there and extend? Do you have a contract with them?

You did not get a CCJ for your car being in a service station car park for an hour longer than it should have been. The private car parking enforcement company did not just send one letter that you say your friends didn't open and then you ended up with a CCJ. That's not how it works.

Why is it your long term plan to try and get the CCJ removed? That needs to be a priority, how long has this situation been going on for and what communication has occurred so far? You can't just not pay it.

If you were overseas, who left your car at the service station?

Do you have a job at the moment? If so, what were you going to do about your living situation anyway, if you are staying in the same area, the job move has not precipitated the homelessness, it was coming anyway.

And either way, why wouldn't you have been looking for a job somewhere, (anywhere) else where you could also get accommodation?

What will happen to your post in a couple of weeks? Do you expect the new tenants to open it and or let you you know?

Where does your insurance think the car is registered to. Once you are homeless your car insurance will be invalid. So you won't be insured to have it on the road. Where will it go then?

When is your MOT due?

What happens if you need the toilet in the night?

I really think you need to sit down and make a new plan.

You mention in your op that you have no friends or family nearby, how far away are they and are any of them aware of your current situation? Would they not be concerned that you are soon to be homeless?

I know you really want this job but is it really worth putting yourself in this situation? Surely you would be better searching for another job, even if it is not exactly the job you want atm, somewhere nearer family/friends and where you can get yourself back on your feet without resorting to such desperate measures? or at the very least in an area where you can rent a room, with standard basic comforts?

My niece's ex ended up living in his car for almost a year, he made himself very unwell and now has a long term back issue. And he had a couple of episodes of illness whilst sleeping in her car (D&V) and that was NOT fun.

OP, I don't think you are thinking this through seriously enough.

Is there a local Facebook page you can ask on about a spare room. I understand you saying about air b&b but l think some people might not of thought of these and would prefer one person rather than a whole host of strangers. Why not give it a go. And good luck.

Age Concern have a homeshare scheme it might be worth investigating.

I think you really need to look at the legalities of the short term tenancy coming to an end. What is happening to the house you are living in? Were you not offered a longer term at the end? You need to do something about this before you start looking into living in your car.

I don't have direct experience of your situation but do live in a small town - someone would definitely notice a car being regularly slept in round here. Even if not overlooked by houses there are many regular dog walkers and there would be Facebook posts about it etc. So I think if it is a similar small place people will know you are doing this, sorry. I hope you find a solution and wish you all the best.

I believe in you @ForTidyFinch, you can do it! Improvise, adapt, overcome 🤗

I’m afraid I don’t have any advice beyond what has already been given and I’m really sorry for your situation. The only thing I have to add is this is a perfect example of the law and how’s its wrong re tenancies.

the King’s speech today is outlining legislation to ban no fault evictions and there is a bill which actually was drafted under the previous govt, that was dropped due to pressure from Landlords.

this happens to people all over the country, it’s a disgrace people can be left without a home. and hopefully soon no more 🙏🏻

OP - can you buy a van? I recently bought one for £2000 (we needed horsebox but it's a Movano van conversion). It's old and not at all fancy, but it's functional and has MOT. We take it all over the country. You can get even cheaper vans as it's the Horsebox element that made it more expensive. A van will be much more comfortable than a car.