How do you afford housing on your own??

[CluelessDad88]

Currently at my parents in London after getting divorced a year ago, we had money saved for a deposit but she ended up with it, so been saving all year but corona has messed up plans getting a mortgage as they want bigger deposits now, my only option to rent i live in the London and looking to rent in Essex or Kent and commute to work, but i dont think i be able to afford a 2 bedroom place on my salary alone, can i claim some sort of housing benefit? from my understanding because my ex gets child benefits i cant claim for universal credit even though i would have the kids part time? Its a real struggle as i cant have overnights till i have my own place.

Thanks in Advance

Yeah its a bloody nightmare. Sorry I have no answers.
The house with my capital tied into it is being used by ex wife and her new partner for at least six years. I have the added bonus of being effectively a guarantor as I cant come off the mortgage which limits my own ability to afford a new house (aside from raising a deposit of course!). I think a lot of blokes in our situation rent for a few years until they get sorted or live with parents etc.
We have it so easy though as fathers post separation....

From my understanding you can still apply for UC. I do and still see my child. I pay maintenance and have child for a few days every holiday and ex gets child benefit. Its ways worth applying, the worse they can say is no.

How long will your parents let you stay with them? I 'm a single mum but when I left my x I was so depressed. I felt like I"d been dragged back 500 metres before the starting line. I had nothing. My parents allowed me to stay with them for 7 years and it was so, so hard because they made me take the children out for a couple of hours per day (as well as school) so that they could watch count down and egg heads in peace.
but I did it. I saved a lot when i was there and I finally got my own place. My parents would claim that the bigger sacrifice was theirs but I obeyed all of their rules and kept the children quiet. I knew I was a bit of an embarrassment to them as well. They were embarrassed that I'd ended up a single parent. But............... I got through it and I saved a deposit and we're all still standing.

Being at the beginning of this ''journey'' is tough. I know people on mumsnet hate the word journey!

Check out this website for advice on claiming UC and all sorts of other advice www.gingerbread.org.uk

I'm a single mum with no help from dad, have a decent wage and can afford a small mortgage but live near Nottingham. No way could I afford to live the places you mentioned. Have you thought about trying places further out to reduce cost of the house? Or what about a shared ownership scheme? Maybe have a look on money saving experts website to get some advice?

Sorry not much help but all fingers and toes crossed for you. I hope it works out.

My H and I have been together for 16 years. We both had crappy previous marriages. I left with nothing as he was abusive and my Hs exW had an affair and he took all the debt as he thought it was the right thing to do for their child. We still rent! We can’t afford a mortgage. ExW however found a couple more suckers along the way and saved her child’s maintenance as a deposit. SD is 19 now and her CM will stop in September, we may finally be able to get a mortgage of our own. It’s sad as my SD is just starting to realise where her CM went.