To want to move home

[Iwantacupofteawith2sugars]

Am in a bit of a predicament and would really appreciate anyone’s insight.
Currently renting a 1 bed flat for me and my daughter, who is about to turn 3. I have lived in this flat with her since she was a newborn. When I first was applying for tenancies back in 2022, it was really stressful trying to find a landlord to take us. I was so happy when we got our flat, as it’s really nice and we have a beautiful garden. I got it with the help of my dad, who acts as my guarantor.

The problem however is regarding space. It’s a SMALL 1bed (35 square feet I think) and I am dying for more space. I also feel bad for my daughter not having her own bedroom.

My contract is up in a couple of months and I’m not sure what to do. I am not working, I’m currently studying my BSc at uni. I graduate next year and will hopefully have a job lined up through my internship.
If I don’t renew then I have to find another landlord to take us and what if that doesn’t work out? Was I just really lucky to get this, or is it reasonable to expect another landlord to accept us?
If I don’t renew and can’t find another landlord in time, I would make us both homeless and we’d end up in temporary accommodation or maybe the council wouldn’t help me as I’d be deemed ‘intentionally homeless’ (not 100% sure on that though.)
But if I do renew this year, then next year my circumstances will be exactly the same re being at uni and not working. So that means living here until my daughter is 5, which would be the safest bet re not ending up homeless but the thought of that makes me feel awful as she will be starting school still sharing a bed with me!!
Going back to live my parents is not ideal, although I know they would accommodate us if we ended up homeless but that would disrupt my uni as they don’t live local and also would mean taking my daughter out of nursery which she loves.
Also, didn’t mention the obvious but yes I can afford to pay the extra couple hundred for a 2bed in my area. I receive student finance, a little bit of universal credit, CMS payments and support from my parents. I’ve never been in arrears or anything like that, have always paid my rent on time. But I appreciate that landlords don’t really count any of the things I listed as guaranteed income.

So the options are:
YABU: Renew tenancy
YANBU: Don’t renew

I’m not sure which option would be in my daughters best interests, as that is my priority. What do you guys think?

Give DD the bedroom and sleep on bed settee in lounge?
DM didn’t have a bedroom for a period of time and had to do this. Her clothes etc were still in our bedroom and she just slept in the living room, putting the bed away each day.

I am not sure you would find a new Landlord tbh

I think you go and find out if you can get another flat before you decide to renew.

@IdLikeThingToSpiralIntoControl I suppose I could do that, I’m just worried she would end up sleeping on the sofa with me!

@Liondoesntsleepatnight Thanks for your opinion yes I’m not sure either, feels like such a risk.

Start looking/applying before the tenancy ends and needs renewing? If you get accepted somewhere then there may be an overlap of rent though so make sure you can afford it or perhaps parents may lend to help out?

Renting can be tough. I wouldn’t put notice in without having something lined up as you could easily find yourself back at the parents.

I think you will find it very difficult to find somewhere to rent when you are not working, even with a guarantor.

@tryingtobesogood I am looking at right move all the time but the problem is most of the listings are either available now or in the next 2 months. I have to give my landlord 2 months notice so I wouldn’t know if I’m accepted until after I’ve decided not to renew if that makes sense. Unless I move now and pay for 2 properties rent, which I may be able to do with my dad’s help but I’d feel so bad asking he’s already done so much.

Another possibility is not leaving and not renewing? Just let it turn into a rolling contract? If you’ve been a good tenant then perhaps your landlord would be accommodating? It’s rare I know.

Are you renting privately or through an agency? Perhaps going through the same agency for your next rental will help as they can vouch for you?

Yes I appreciate that hence my hesitancy to do so. Do you think it’s better for my daughter to stay here then until I’m working? Even though it’s technically overcrowded.

I think as suggested above, if you bought a bed settee for the lounge and you slept on that so your daughter has her own room, you can stay in your flat until you graduate and have a job. That way your daughter can stay at nursery and you can continue with your studies.
You are obviously managing fine on the income you have so I would start saving as much as you can so that when you do eventually move you will be able to offer six months rent in advance. This will help if you are having a problem finding a tenancy.

I think I would stay put and save the extra £200. Could you consider bunk beds? You could get one of those tent ones, add fairy lights, put up a little shelf for her, make it her own mini room.

It's not overcrowded, though

Plenty of parents ( couples included) sleep on sofabed to give child the bedroom

If moving back in with your parents means disruption to your studies, won't that prevent your job plans
What would your long term plan be if you moved back in with your parents- to stay there indefinitely?

I don't think your DD needs her own bed and bedroom at just 3, if you're both happy with the arrangement you have. Stay where you are for now, and revisit the question in a year or two.

Another suggestion, go and talk to an estate agent that does rentals, get their take on how hard or easy it would be to be taken on for another property at this time. You have already proven your ability to pay rent in your current situation.

For the future, think about registering with the estate agents too as often they will contact you before a property goes on Rightmove and may know of future properties that are coming up available to rent.

@Roseshavethorns getting a sofa bed is an option yes and I have thought about it but she still breastfeeds through the night so I’m quite nervous about sleeping on the sofa as I’m worried she will come and find me 🫣🤣 and I’d rather she sleeps in a bed than a sofa. So may need to wait until she stops to do that, although so far she’s showing no signs of stopping.

and thanks for the advice re saving, yes 6 months upfront would help for sure.

You don't need to renew and tie yourself in to another 12 month contract. It will automatically move onto a rolling contract

@Searchingforthelight I think legally we are classed as overcrowded and would be eligible to be on the council waiting list for my area, although it would be years until we’d be house and by then I’d hope to be earning enough to afford our own place so we’d no longer be eligible.
and yes moving back with my parents would be a bad move, so I don’t want to do that at all. I don’t have any plans to do that, just mentioned it as a worst case scenario option. It would totally screw with my life plans.

Stay as you are.
It s not big deal if you co sleep til she is 5 or 10
When she wants her space she will say

Do you think?
I feel like people say this but then I don’t know anyone who actually does share, so I feel so bad about it and embarrassed. All of her friends have their own rooms.
Thank you tho for saying it’s not a big deal, I just want to do right by her x

https://theconversation.com/is-there-such-a-thing-as-too-old-to-co-sleep-with-your-child-the-research-might-surprise-you-188145

I would stay where you are until you finish your Bsc. Once you are in employment, you'll be in a better position overall. It's only a couple of more years.