To ask what you’d do in this dire situation?

[ReallyStuck2024]

Posting for traffic.

I live in SE England. I’m trying to move to a cheaper part of the UK and I’m making plans to do so.

I work FT and have an additional PT job. I’m working around 55-60 hours a week.

No savings, can’t get a decent credit card or even a loan due to previous poor credit (which I’m working to resolve).I’m not entitled to any benefits.
I don’t drive so can’t take on work as for eg Deliveroo or Amazon or otherwise

Family can’t help me with financial support. I also cannot stay with family in the short term due to valid but complicated reasons.

the situation is: it’s going to cost me thousands to move: in terms of arranging a move but also because my current flat is furnished and I’d have to furnish an entire new house. So I need to save for six months or so.

whilst this is all going on, my LL announced he was putting the rent up by £450 a month, effective March. I can’t afford this and will need to move. But I can’t afford to move.

I am wracking my head for solutions here - even moving into a house share and getting rid of most of my belongings but that still wouldn’t work because I’d need a months rent and deposit up front and tbh, house shares and one bed flats aren’t that different in price where I’m looking.

What on earth am I meant to do? I’m seriously panicking

You don't actually have to pay professional cleaners, even if the landlord says you do, unless you think it's necessary to get the cleaning done to a good standard.

I would definitely look at being a lodger in the area you want to settle in.
It will likely be a lot cheaper and less deposit than a flat.
You won't need to worry about buying furniture straight away.
Then you can save up some money to move into a flat later.

If you have a disability there may be a charity connected who could help you.
I had a landlord like yours once. Before the deposit scheme, so didn't pay the last months rent because I knew he was going to be a dick.
Just make sure new letting agents/landlord don't want a landlord reference.
Good luck 💐

house shares - look on spareroom.co.uk

its not ideal but a year and save like mad it will help a lot?!

Can you just stay in the house and wait for him to evict you? He's not behaving very ethically so you don't need to either. It would be stressful but probably less stressful than leaving with nowhere secure to go.

You can buy second hand furniture apart from a bed....it's quite often nicer.

I've got an idea @ReallyStuck2024

ive just been on the haven site and proved up a caravan at Devon cliffs. It's coming up at about £230 for a fortnights holiday from March. Could you book a few of these to give yourself some breathing space to move and find somewhere once you're there? All your bills would be covered and you would have workspace and living accommodation covered for less than £500 a month. Even if only for a few months so you avoid peak times?

www.haven.com/search-results/parks?accessibleVans=false&adults=1&arrivalDate=2025-03-07&children=1&dateRange=true&dogs=0&duration=14&parkCode=DE%2CPS%2CRV%2CLS%2CRP%2CSV%2CWM&parks=DE%2CPS%2CRV%2CLS%2CRP%2CSV%2CWM&referringStep=date&tots=0

On a very quick look at Airbnb, putting in two months, feb and March, and Exeter, you could get something for about £1k a month. Given that this would include bills and be equipped so you could move in with basically a suitcase it might give you a couple of months breathing space, time to save, time to look at different areas.

I do, I am AuDHD. Didn’t even consider assistance from associated charities!

The tenant who lives below me is going to stay until he’s evicted, because like me he needs time to find somewhere. He’s in a worse position than me. I’m not moving until I’m ready and if that means a sec 21 is issued and followed then so be it.

A lot of holiday cottages in Devon are rented out on 6-month tenancies over the winter, and they are furnished so you wouldn't need to worry about buying furniture until you find a more permanent place. Google 'winter lets Devon'.

Yes and the rest of my support network

and not one of them can help you out financially or with a place to stay temporarily?

I could stay on a sofa for few days but not any longer. Mum can possibly lend me a few hundred but I know she can’t afford it and neither can any of my friends. It’s not a huge support network: two family members, three friends. All in similar financial positions.

Can you guys share for a few weeks?

I know that's probably a stupid idea. But if it's not for long and you shared the rent? Since you're both in a rubbish situation you could maybe help each other out

As pp have said, you can challenge the rent increase at a rent tribunal. The section 13 you said you have been served should tell you how to do this.
I presume you are not on any means tested benefits.

We are both in one bed flats, he is a man in his late 50s, I’d feel really really uncomfortable with this. As would he, I’d bet. Our flats are almost identical - so tiny one bed flats with open plan kitchen/living rooms.

What industry are you in? That's such a basic wage it's awful.

No benefits, I’m not eligible for any.

He hasn’t served the s13 yet but will be doing so this week.

Ironically, law (although not landlord and tenant, which would be useful in this instance)

Why move to Devon when no one can help financially or practically, surely there are cheaper places near there that would allow you to visit more easily than Surrey but without paying premium Devonshire prices . Bristol?

Alternatively pursue the lodger route rather than trying to get your own place which you sadly can't afford.

Maybe a fresh start up North where accommodation is obviously cheaper? I know you want family support but there's always the phone and facetime.

Bristol is even worse than Devon in terms of the rental market.

If I moved up North then I’d be hours and hours away from any and all emotional support. I really need my network and being away from them (by 150 miles currently) has been killer.

my choices are to move closer to them or stay where I am, but I think lodging / renting in the north whilst sensible on paper would be very unwise (for me, personally).

Prayer - St Joseph for financial assistance, St Philomena for a miracle, or rhe souls in purgatory to sort it for you. People may laugh but you have got no other option at this stage.

Good luck @ReallyStuck2024, you'll get yourself to Devon.

I would also consider signing up for job alerts for things in your field or similar. Even a small increase in your wages would really help. Maybe it's the kind of job that doesn't come up much but things will be advertised and just having a regular email digest means you can keep an eye out.

To quote Sister Michael

"For feck's sake"

OP would my caravan holiday suggestion above work do you think?