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

Live with an elderly person for free, in exchange for approx 10 hours per week help - eg cooking, cleaning, food shopping

homeshareuk.org/

I am sorry for your situation.

I don’t know where you are based but I have recently heard about some places like this which seem to offer flexible renting:
https://hyelm.com

Just in case there is something like this in your area!

Wishing you well.

I’m in Surrey and I’m looking to move to the SW - Devon
Not quite Devon but not far, Butlins,Minehead offer accommodation to their staff at reasonable rates. No deposit, furnished. Laundrette and food hall on site. Not sure what work you do but there is all sorts there.

If you want work from home, the world is your oyster. Go and have a look at homestays where you can cat/dog sit or something similar. That way you can try out cities and save at the same time until you find somewhere you love. If youve got lots kf stuff, look into a storage unit or get selling. Leave by March as that £450 will help your savings massively!

Probably already been mentioned (I’ve read a chunk of the thread but it’s long) but being a live in guardian/security for vacant buildings is super cheap. I know people who’ve done it in office blocks/empty care homes etc.

Haven't read full thread so apologies if it's been mentioned. Have you thought of house sitting sites? Might be a faff but if you could find a longer term one it might give you chance to save a deposit and month's rent?

Stop fretting about things like furniture and make sure you've moved by March.

When we went from furnished to unfurnished, we had a blow up mattress and two plastic garden chairs my Mum had bought us. Our TV was on a cardboard box.

It's not great but it is doable. And now charity sites or shops have furniture or IKEA basics are pretty reasonable too.

Your landlord will try to keep your deposit but simply refuse to agree to anything except the full deposit back. As long as the property is in reasonable order they'll judge in your favour. Just be smart and take lots of photos before you leave in case he tries to sabotage something. Don't be tempted to accept just a bit deducted thinking that's a good deal. He should hand it all back unless there is a very very good reason. Landlords often treat deposits as their money to use on setting up the house for the next tenants. It's not. And bugger paying for a professional cleaner. Do everything yourself to a good standard. I've rented lots and always got my full deposit back. Every single time I had to fight for it.

@ReallyStuck2024 Martin Lewis has excellent bad credit guides on his money saving expert website and advice on specific bad credit CCs if you do find yourself needing one as a short term measure.

@valentinka31

Don't know where you are getting your numbers from but I'm in West Yorkshire and my rent, food and fuel are way more expensive than that!
My son is in a 2 bed mid terrace in a crap part of Leeds and his rent is £800.
Food and fuel especially in Winter costs a bomb and public transport and wages are crap

If you are looking at Devon specifically Plymouth for example is much cheaper than Exeter to rent. Even if it is not your ideal location might be worth a 12 month stint to be closer to your support network whilst you are paying off your debts before you move to where you actually want to be. Spareroom would be good to check out for house shares.

Why don’t you just move somewhere cheaper and just get the bare essentials initially. There are loads of selling sites that you can pick up cheap and sometimes free stuff. It will save you money in the long run and take a lot of stress out of your current rent situation.

Hello my dear
I'm so sorry you are in this challenging situation.
My no 1 suggestion would be to learn to drive. I know that's not cheap in itself, but it offers so many money earning opportunities.
I wish you the very best of luck op

You've had good advice but that is steep

Sounds like my pos ex land people (2 middle age sisters and their husbands) absolute cunts

Not enforceable and he's being cheeky. I'm a landlord myself. You have to leave the flat how you found it. So if it was cleaned to a professional standard that's how you hand it back. HOWEVER, you can do this yourself. He can't ask you hire a company and can't take monies from your deposit if you don't.

Did he protect your deposit in a deposit protection scheme (compulsory by law!)? If he didn't he's in trouble. If he did, they decide what is and isn't deductable and it's all done via this third party so he can't just keep whatever money he likes.

Sorry you're going through this. All the best.

Your landlord is insane, putting rent up by that much, definitely go to CAB if you can. You say you can't stay with family, but could they at least help you with transport for a move? I would also try looking for a job live in maybe as a PA Lady magazine is great for jobs like that . Or could you do ironing , making something , cleaning that could give you extra income. Hope you sort something out.

It's a very stressful situation. You could try to reduce the stress to what's essential. For instance, you don't need to buy furniture for an 'entire house'. Why do you think you'd be renting (or buying) an entire house when you're currently struggling to manage paying for a flat? Even if you did move into say, a 3 bed house, you certainly don't need to furnish the 2 bedrooms you're not using. Although you might do this in the longer term so you could have a lodger. Unlikely if you're renting though. You could probably beg or borrow a mattress and a table to eat off and a chair. I know that sounds spartan but if you haven't got the money, then you haven't got the money! Also why would moving be so expensive if your current property is furnished. Do you really have several vanloads of personal 'stuff': clothes, books, electronics, hobby stuff etc.? Could you look at selling some of your surplus stuff?
If you can calm down an look at how you can do what you HAVE to do, then you'll feel better. Good luck!

Try spare room dot com or Property Guardians?

How's it going op?

Does it feel a bit more doable

LL can (before the new Renters Bill comes in next year) increase the rent by whatever he wants. However, the OP can take the LL to a Rent Tribunal if the increase is more than 10% and if the increase is much more than the current 'going rate' locally for similar properties. He also has to issue a Section 13 Notice to the tenant with a due notice period. Also, increases can take place only once every 12 months.

The council helped my ex. Paid the rent and first month. Moving in on his own

I think I would look for a cheaper rental where I and put the move to a different location on hold for 6 months to a year.

of he is going to withhold your deposit anyway I would clean the place as well as you can don’t get anyone in to do it as he will deduct anyway

I actually rent a couple of properties and this is correct. He can start section 8 proceedings after you haven’t paid full rent for 2 months, so don’t panic. I would get some legal advice because he can’t make you homeless but in the long term you don’t want to stay there anyway, so focus on saving for a deposit and finding something lovely in another part of the country. You are lucky you can work from anywhere! Even Thailand ?