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.

Get in touch with your landlord and explain tell them you are looking for something else asap ( maybe mention health) can you at least have a bit longer ? . Call shelter and see where you would stand if you don’t/ can’t move straight away? . Good luck OP

So sorry OP.
I live in a similar area and will keep an ear out for short term houseshares or similar. Such s nightmare for you.

This. You absolutely must wait until you've exchanged contracts before giving notice to end your tenancy. You have to factor this into the budget.

I think PPs' suggestions of looking for house-sitting or lodger type arrangements seem the best option. If you do want to look for another rental you'd ideally need a short fixed term (eg 6 months) so you can leave after that point if you do find another house soon.

Did the seller give a reason for pulling out?

Lots of rooms to rent
https://m.spareroom.co.uk/flatshare/?search_id=1335640877&

I am so sorry, OP. This sounds so hard.

This might seem a bit silly, but perhaps try posting on your local NextDoor and seeing if anyone can help? Obviously, keep an eye out for skeevy men and con artists, but I’ve found people on there to be incredibly helpful and community minded. They might have useful local suggestions.

What a crass comment.

Oh and please do ignore the posters telling you to "rescind" your notice; you can't do that. Your tenancy will end when it was due to end, and if you did stay, your landlord wouldn't need a court order to evict you.

From Shelter Legal:

Status of tenants after notice period expires
A valid notice to quit (NTQ) served by the tenant will end their periodic tenancy. The tenancy ends when the NTQ expires.
Former tenants who can be lawfully evicted without a court order after their notice expires
The following occupiers can be lawfully evicted without a court order if they remain in the property after the notice period they gave in a valid NTQ expires:
excluded occupiers
statutorily protected tenants
Statutorily protected tenants are:
Rent Act protected/regulated tenants
assured and assured shorthold tenants
[OP is an Assured Shorthold Tenant]
from https://england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/renting/how_a_tenant_can_end_a_tenancy/occupiers_notice_to_end_a_periodic_tenancy_or_licence#status-of-tenants-after-notice-period-expires

https://liveinguardians.com/locations/london-property-guardians

Might be worth a look. A good friend did it for a year and while it wasn't the best it wasn't too bad according to him anyway

Mumsnet "wit" at its finest there .
Pointless & unhelpful

You come on here and make bitchy comments to someone going through a tough time. How odd.

People seem to be falling over themselves to offer out-there solutions to the OP - be a pet sitter, live in a van, live in an abandoned castle. She can just rent a room which would be the best solution for her, surely.

Stop being so foolish.

Not you @Startinganew32 - the poster you replied to.

I wonder about the mental health of people who find joy in being vile. I guess they're unhappy themselves?

There are Facebook groups that people sublet rooms/apartments through for short periods of time. That could help. Also a room in a shared house might be a decent priced alternative to an Airbnb.

Would anyone at work rent you a room for a good price?
Many AirBnB’s are empty this time of year. See if you could negotiate a better rate for staying long term
I’m so sorry you are in this position

House sitting isn't an outlandish suggestion. Lots of people do it and it would be a very cheap option. And lots of people go away over Christmas.

Yeah but she needs more certainty than a few weeks while people are away. She will be looking to buy somewhere else so that will take a few months. Are lots of people likely to be away for several months?

People have been making suggestions for places which may be out there, but cheaper or free options which the OP may not have considered. Yes, renting a room somewhere might be fine, but maybe OP has a house worth of furniture to also store somewhere?

What about one of those professional house sitting services? Or pet sitting. They’re definitely out there.
you could pot stuff in storage.

Good link op, that is rough.

@Apolloneuro I will happily state my point in a thread and back my opinions , not everyone is going to agree.... but snide shots are pointless and add nothing. I've had some "interactions" on here with ppl.
I do think the mumsnet twin thing is one of the most tiresome and pointless barbs.

House sitting or renting a room sound like possible options as suggested; there's also an Easy Hotel in Croydon, which I believe are a good price per night - no idea how comparable to your rent/prospective mortgage of course, but maybe? Premier Inn or Travelodge if you get a bit desperate before you find longer term options? I wish you all the best of luck.

@Bakewellbits Could you try to broker a price with a hotel? I used to know a guy who did that for work. What's the plans for you 'stuff ' storage is surprisingly expensive where I am.

@Letmegohome what is the "mumsnet twin thing"?

@Oppppppp It implies the person is lying it's been done for years, no idea of the origin .
Like sigh is pass agg but not a rule break