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

Check Turn2Us in case you are eligible for any grants - something like the Elizabeth Finn Trust may be able to help.

The ridiculous thing about this is, if you found an Airbnb for £48 per night, it’d be cheaper than living in your flat - as you’d not have any household bills, utilities or council tax to pay

itd be cheaper to live in France for 3 months Lille with direct trains back to London a 2 bed apartment for 3 months is £3300 ( no other bills )

Milton Keynes also has a 3 month rental for £3000, a studio apartment

there is a short term rental place in Exmouth for £2,600 but it’s a bedroom, although there is a gym indoor pool, beautiful setting I’m not sure whether there is a kitchen

You don't really need to furnish your new place. Get an inflatable mattress from argos or marketplace, a microwave, and maybe a mini fridge (i got one from Amazon for £50 when I was a student). It's not ideal but for under £200 you will be comfortable enough. Then slowly buy what you need over a few months.

what drew you to london away from your entire support network, when you work remotely anyway?

they are all in dire financial and living situations?

I live in quite a poor area of the West Midlands. My landlord has just decided to increase our rent by 22%
my first thought was surely he can’t?! But yes, he can. He says it’s in line with other local properties of a similar size, but my argument was that these other properties are all new builds with lovely shiny new bathrooms and kitchens, unlike our home which hasn’t been updated since it was built in the early 90’s and he hasn’t spent a penny on any repairs or renovations. We have obviously redecorated it ourselves, even paid for new carpet. I hate land lords.

if he’s going to be charging the same as much nicer..,. seems like perfect opportunity to move!

Lastly, please ignore the ridiculous advice saying to withold the last month's rent in "lieu" of your deposit. That's hideous advice and with your current credit rating in the toilet, it would be the worse possible thing to do if you ever want to rent again.

Whilst I would normally agree with this...

everyone can see what is going to happen - OP will give notice pay rent as a good person and LL will then scam her over the deposit and it will either take months and months to get back or she will never see the deposit again

For one months rent it is unlikely that the LL will take this to court for a CCj - as he will have the deposit to over the rent

If Op stays in the property and can't afford the rent, then gets an eviction notice - then has to stay there until it goes to court for bailiff to evict her and then she goes to temporary accommodation, to then get council property - this can and does work - but it could well be very stressful and she could end up owing a lot f rent.

I'd advice to seek advice from shelter

Op asked for ideas as to what we would do in the same situation and not advice - this will give a different slant on what is said/written in posts

They aren’t in dire situations but can’t financially afford to lend me the money for a deposit for eg, which is going to be over a grand. I wouldn’t say the living situations are dire but no one would have the room for me to stay anything other than very short term

I’m not in London, I’m in Surrey. Ironically I grew up in London but had to move as I was priced out (when I moved, I was in a house share costing £700 a month which is what I was initially paying for a house with my ex partner, this was some years ago. Partner and I split which is how I ended up here on my own)

I went to uni in the West Country and my family decided to relocate to Devon when my GPs died.

and your entire network in Devon in same dire financial situation as you?

your mother lives alone? surely you can kip with her and keep your bits in cheap storage
work from cafes

I’m not trying to be rude here at all but I explained this - no one has the money to lend me (or has declined when I asked. I’m fairly sure my Mum could help me but declined to)

She doesn’t live alone. She is the carer for my brother. He has high needs. There isn’t the room.

i’m not talking about money

I see. No one has the room for me to be staying on a sofa for longer than a day or so.

My job means I can’t work from cafes or shared work spaces due to the confidentiality of my work.

i couldn’t work from Mums or my friends as they don’t have room for me to work or stay.

it seems to me that you are moving to devon
but you actually say that your support network are in “the same financial situation” as you.

Why? low earning? precarious living arrangements? no friend you can kip with whilst stuff in storage?

it won’t be ideal

but that is what loved ones do when the shit hits the fan. Put up with inconvenience

you kip on the sofa, you put stuff in storage, you work from cafes

My friends and family can’t help with the financial side - I’ve asked my Mum but she wouldn’t/couldn’t. My friends are better off than me but have responsibilities (kids etc) and don’t have a huge amount of savings.

i couldn’t stay for a day or so on a sofa but nothing longer than that which doesn’t help

so you’re on minimum wage
in legal services
in a highly confidential remit

good grief op
how many times do i need to say im not talking about financial!!

why couldn’t you when countless have. not ideal but not forever

How many times does OP have to say that she can't work in cafes. Not everyone can work in cafes. Would you be happy for me to conduct your medical appointment in a cafe?

I earn about 27K. And yes - not everyone in the legal sector earns mega bucks. Criminal and family law are not high earning areas of law for eg

but that is for the legal FT job and your PT job

so it just be more like £20k