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

I believe that but he can’t just raise the rent by that amount.

I know this is really vague, I’m trying to remain anonymous as possible (ha). Staying with family is not an option, for very good reasons on their end. Friends would be but literally overnight on a sofa.

What about near Devon but not in it? Like Somerset?

Overview

+1

In the UK, there are no legal limits on how much a landlord can increase rent for private tenants, unless you're a regulated or protected tenant. However, landlords should generally stick to "fair rent" increases that are in line with current market rates.

Here are some things you can consider when deciding if a rent increase is fair:
Compare to similar properties
Check the rent for similar properties in your area.

Consider inflation
If the cost of your rent is rising in line with inflation, this might be seen as a fair price increase.

Check your tenancy agreement
Your tenancy agreement might have a rent review clause that says how much your rent can go up by.

Consider your affordability
Before accepting a rent increase, it's a good idea to check how much rent you can afford.

If you think a rent increase is too high, you can:

Speak to your landlord to see if you can negotiate a smaller rise.

Discuss any increases in advance with your landlord.

england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/rent_increases

Have you looked on rooms roomstolet.co.uk or spare room.co uk? Probably your best option.

Your landlord sounds like he is trying to force you all out. Greedy bastard!

This might sound crazy but what about living in a hotel (temporarily)?
Then you're only paying night to night?

No money upfront

It’s short sighted though because he can absolutely swivel on it if he thinks that any of us are going to lend our goodwill to allowing viewings during our notice so he’s going to end up worse off in the long term.

I’ve looked at house shares but the deposit issue still remains :(

An increase of £450 is obscene. Does your workplace have any kind of loan or relocation scheme?

You can make a few hundred (or more if you're really determined) doing matched betting https://outplayed.com/what-is-matched-betting but you have to be careful to read the guides properly so you don't fuck it up. As long as you follow the instructions carefully then you're not at risk of losing any money, it's not 'proper' betting. I used this company to help me. You can use their live chat to double check with them that you haven't made any mistakes before you place the bets. There's some threads on it here you can search for.

If a room is, say, £80, then that’s £3400 a month though?

They only help if you have children.

I was just looking online and apparently what the landlord is doing is perfectly legal.

She can stay put and refuse to pay but the LL could start eviction proceedings.

Seems like private lettings are the Wild West.

Thank you!

no loan or relocation scheme unless your role is mandated to be on site which mine isn’t. Sadly (the irony)

It isn’t legal.

The council will help you with a deposit if you can prove you need the help and can't afford it otherwise. Check council deposit scheme referencing your local council on Google and you should find it. I believe they all have this as an option and it's either a loan or a grant depending on your financial situation x

Look after yourself won’t you. It’s actually quite traumatic to suddenly lose your home and have the fear of not finding another one.

Make sure you switch off from the process for a good chunk of time each day.

I think given the landlord's behaviour you should prioritise saving money for a new place. Don't pay your last month's rent, and don't clean the place, he can use your deposit for that. He's refused to be reasonable so no reason why you should be. But go to CAB first to check what your rights are.

Ok, your estimated moving costs are literally the worst case scenario. I moved from London to the West Country on a shoestring budget - van hire with pick up in London and drop off in undisclosed SW location was about £120 plus £40 to pay for my mate who was driving to go back to London on a train. Sell your furniture and just keep a single mattress for your new place. It’s not a big deal to sleep on the floor for a few weeks until payday.
You don’t need a professional cleaner to do the moving out clean. You can scrub the oven and, if you must, hire a carpet washer from your local DIY shop for about £30 a day. I never hired a cleaner and got my deposit back every time with no issues. So, the entire logistics of a move come to £200 tops.
Now, to your new place. Currently, you can afford £1000 a month in rent. For this money, you can find a long-term Airbnb in Devon or, at the very least in the arse end of Bristol/Weston/Portishead. No deposit required and will give you a few months breathing room to clear your debt and save up for a deposit.
It is 100% doable. You just need to stop panicking and sit down and look at some numbers and options.

Thanks again everyone - I feel a bit more positive now. I feel I have more information and support (no one who I spoke to IRL seems to understand that I can’t just magic the £ out of nowhere). I’ll speak to the other tenants in the building and shelter tomorrow too. I did look at their website earlier but I was panicked and it didn’t make any sense to me then

I was a live in nanny pick up from school and evening
got a room board and lodgings and paid £60 a week
old people want this two
I would advertise yourself and see what you get

Seriously l think l would join one if the forces OP. Good luck 🤞

Oh really? My local council doesn't have that as a stipulation and will help as long as you are financially eligible

You are my hero. Thank you for this.

You can definitely afford a houseshare in Devon for about £600, 650 a month, rooms for rent usually include bills. So, compared with now, you would have more money, but it's not the same as a one bed flat for sure. You can rent something out in the short term from Air B and B or Spare Room or on student websites, to get you started and then work out exactly where you want and need to be. If you don't need to commute you can go to the less popular/more inland areas of Devon and keep away from the more expensive ones, it's not impossible, though it isn't that easy. I think if you stay flexible and are prepared to look at multiple locations, that might work, also try Next Door in the particular areas you like.

Does your employer have a tenancy deposit scheme (I discovered by accident that mine does - didn't even know it was a thing)? Property guardian (maybe try Dot Dot Dot)? Stick your stuff in storage and do short-term lets on Spareroom (between tenants - not fun but you don't always need a deposit and it can work out not too expensive)?

Literally Wild West. It beggars belief and yet my situation is not even that uncommon!