Nowhere to live over Christmas, advice needed

[Bakewellbits]

I was meant to be completing on my first home this weekend, but the seller pulled out last minute, despite pressuring me for weeks to exchange - there was a legal issue outstanding that took a few weeks for solicitors to resolve, not a big deal, or my fault, but obvs needed sorting. Then at point of exchange the seller decided not to move afterall. I'm devastated.

I've given notice on my rental flat and new tenants are moving in soon. I have nowhere to go now, there are hardly any rentals around that I can afford. Airbnbs costs a bloody fortune. I need to be able to commute to work in London 3-4 days a week. I've spent 20 years saving for my deposit, I can't afford to go throwing several grand away on an Airbnb for several months while I get my shit together finding a new rental or place to buy - then I'll never be able to afford to buy. I have no family left, and no close friends any more so can't stay with anyone.

Any advice? And yes, things could be worse, I could be completely broke and homeless, so at least I'm lucky enough to have some funds.

I had a similar-ish situation years back and ended up lodging on a short term basis. Not ideal but it'll be a roof over your head. Maybe with another female of a similar age or something?

Yes she can’t rescind her notice.

If you drive, what about a van or camper which you can sell on once you are settled again?

Be very careful about staying put. It's true that on one hand you can't be made to leave without a court order. But you would have breached your agreement with the landlord and you could be responsible for all sorts of foreseeable costs for the landlords and the new tenants (and possibly others). You won't be homeless, but it could be very expensive indeed. Please take proper advice before you do that and don't rely on Mumsnet.

Definitely try trustedhousesitters. I know someone who saved up for a house deposit by just moving from house sit to house sit in the London area, while working in central London. They did it for a several years and put most of their stuff into storage. It's definitely doable.

Huh? You think she should live in a van in the middle of winter? There are about 500 rooms for rent in her area. Why on earth would she live in a van?

What about this

We use Rover.com to get house/dog sitters. Could that work?

Can you take some holiday from work to give yourself a bit of breathing space?
Or even tell them your situation and hope that they allow you time off.

It means you can rent somewhere really cheap and it doesn’t have to be close to work.

You can then post on every social media page you can and try and find someone looking for a lodger or cheap to rent.

Also look at campsites.
There may be caravans you can rent cheaply for now.

I’m sorry this is happening to you.

Why would you have been paying both? You don't pay the mortgage from exchange, it's from completion, so you could exchange say on the 1st of a month( or even before that) with completion agreed on 31st, you pay the last month's rent on the 1st, give a month's notice that day and start paying the mortgage on the 1st of the following month.
Am I missing something because that's what my son and wife did( had a few days overlap paying both because of weekends falling on certain dates), they gave notice on the day of exchange and completed and moved a month later.

Because it would save money in the long run. There are a lot of people who do this but I agree, not for the faint hearted. Just a suggestion and what I would do I think.

Agree a house sit would be ideal at this time of year - if you have a local Facebook page you could ask on there.

She didn't have to afford both at the same time. If exchange of contracts had taken place OP could have decided a completion date and then handed her notice. Why would you do it before? Total madness.

Not sure it would really. If OP rents a room for £700 a month for say five months until she can complete on a property, that’s £3500. If she buys a van that’s livable that’s shitloads plus she will be freezing cold and damp living there in the winter and will have issues parking seeing as she lives in London. Also she will need to dip into her deposit money to buy this van so won’t be able to buy anything until she’s sold the van.

Have you asked everyone you know? And asked them to ask everyone?
I think knowing it’s only temporary might encourage some people for the extra money.

My friend was stuck when her rental ended and she was moving across country in a month. My friend had a house that wouldn’t sell so I tried to put them together but even with my guarantee she wouldn’t go for it. She regretted it and kept asking me months later if she wanted to move in (she’d already left).

Cat sitting/ dog sitting? Loads of people over Facebook house sitting sites wanting someone to pet sit rent free. I’ve seen some in London definitely! Also longer term ones…

A room in a house will be the cheapest rent.

There are several rooms on spare room.com in coulsdon for £800 a month. That’s got to be cheaper than your current rent, storage is £200 a month. Most house shares are min 6 months then rolling basis, gives you time to find you forever home.
wishing you best of luck.

Now is not the time to panic, you have options.

We’ve used Trustedhousesitters previously when we were away and needed someone to look after our pet. You may well find one without a pet. Some people have month long/extended stays, which would be really useful.

I would also look for a room/apt in the meantime. You may find a someone is subletting their room (at a reduced rate) whilst they’re away for Christmas or travelling. I would also put my things into storage until I found a more perm solution.

You won’t be homeless; you’ve got this.

Thanks that comment makes me feel loads better.

My mum died, I don't have a relationship with my dad, and I have no siblings. I have no close friends because I'm quiet and shy and have a medical condition which means I get tired easily, amongst other things, so I don't get out much anymore. I can just about manage to hold down my job thankfully.

What about university accommodation? Sometimes it’s vacated and rented out during holidays. Otherwise hostels / airbnb / spare room.

Your first paragraph is really ignorant and clueless, not to mention insensitive.

What about trying to sign up to a house sitting site?

I'm so sorry you are in this situation. Jamyang Buddhist centre in Vauxhall has cheap and nice rooms (around 40 per night I think) which might be an option until you get something more permanent sorted.