Can I rent a one bed flat with a child?

[Tallulah33]

Hi,
I have been wondering if it possible and legally OK to rent a one bed flat when you are a single mum with a child? I know that the letting agents are usually against it, they won't let you even apply for a one bed if you have a child. I've heard explanations that the council may cause them trouble if they agreed because one bed is too small, a child needs its own bedroom and so on.
Here's the story. I am renting a large two bed house but since I have split with my husband, its very hard for me to pay for rent, bills and so on. I pay 570 pcm for my house and get a little bit of HB. However, if I rented a proper and spacious one bed, I would be around 80-100 pcm better off and that would make a huge difference to my finances. I was considering a newly built flat because it would mean further savings for electricity and gas, as our current house is old, too big for us and with poor insulation and we pay loads for utilities. At the moment, after all the bills I have only 200 left or food, clothing, entertainment and so on as I commute to work 4 times a week and car or trains ticket cost me around 200 per month. If I had that 100 per month more it would mean we can afford some short holiday or I can start saving a little bit more for the future.
Moreover, if I lived in a one bed with my DD, we would be classed as overcrowded and I could apply for a council property and probably would get one within next couple of years. Don't get me wrong but it really winds me up to see so many unemployed people living in council houses and often keepin them filthy when hard working families that would care about the house hale no chance of getting acouncil property and receive no real support. There is no much being said about affordable housing.... and I am wondering what are the options for affordable housing for working families on low income, like us.
At the moment I have no chance of buyig own flat or house and I cannot afford living in my current house. I have talked to my council and the the only way they can help me is to offer me a loan for deposit which I don't need because I have savings for deposit and removal.
Me and my daughter have no stability as we had to change houses every years within past couple of years because of landlords selling them. I just wish to live in something more permanent and affordable and I don't even mind sleeping in the lounge while my daughter takes the bedroom.
How can I make this happen? How to rent a one bed flat with a child? I was thinking about not telling the agent about my DD and just applying as a single person, but will that work? They will see that I get child benefit on my bank statement.
I am really desperate, just stuck in a dead end with all that. Any advice?

I have never heard of not renting a flat to someone because a child wouldn't have it's own room.

It's more likely that the owners don't want to rent to people with children when for a one bedroom place most of the applicants wouldn't have any. If you see what I mean. We rent our our three bedroomed house and we of course expect that people will have children. But the person with the one bedroomed place will be expecting that people won't have dc.

I would just keep trying.

There is nothing in law to prevent you from renting a one bed flat. It may not be considered best practice in housing terms which is why you might struggle to find a landlord who will allow it but I'm sure there are some out there who will.

You don't say how old DD is or what you would be intending the sleeping arrangements to be. If you are thinking that DD would have the bedroom and you would sleep on a sofa bed in the living room, then you will be restricted about what sort of place you can do that in. Regulations which exist to reduce the incidence of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning make it actually illegal for someone to have their usual sleeping accommodation in the same room as a gas fire, appliance or boiler. If you are planning on both sharing the bedroom that's fair enough.

I wouldn't try to decieve the letting agents/landlords - they will have the right to do property inspections anyway to make sure you aren't trashing the place, and there is no way you can make a flat that a child lives in look like a flat for a lone single woman. Remember that landlords can choose to terminate your tennancy any time they like after the first 6 months so they have to be on board with the plan.

Talk to some letting agents and be honest - just tell them that you can't afford a 2 bed flat any more, and are looking for a suitable 1 bed flat to live in while your DD is small, and that you will be hoping to find a larger place that you can afford in X years. There will be nasty agents who can't be bothered to help you, but you will find one that is helpful and can match you up to the right place.

Lying is as bad as those filthy unemployed people taking up council houses!!

Tell the truth!

Surely your ex has a responsibility to support the stability and home of his child....maybe you need to discuss the maintenance and re-calculate what ex is giving you....?
You need 2 bedrooms and a decent situation for your DD....and her DF has a responsibility to help provide this for her....

as you say the utilities are expensive for the property you are in....maybe you could be moving into newer property which is better insulated and modern heating, double glazing, etc....and probably smaller too....

another idea...if you are in the suburbs or wherever....sometimes there are large static caravans which are rentable all year....they are getting popular with many people as a cheaper, more affordable home option.....maybe you could investigate this as an option if you have a car and what not.....
I have a friend who's parents live in one and they are lovely....really....it's just like any home would be inside...suite, etc, heating and fireplace, bedrooms, everything you need....obviously there is a minimal storage ability but thats just about being organised and not building up too much 'stuff'....safer play area's for DD, open spaces and fresh air....if I was in your position I would seriously consider this as an option

Yeah I suppose unemployed people shouldn't be allowed in council houses!

Anyway.. Nothing wring with a one bed property for you and your DD. If she's young and you're not planning on having "ahem" male company to sleepover then sharing one big bedroom with her may be fun for you both! If she's older she may want/need her own space and therefore you could get a place with a large bedroom and keep your wardrobe etc in there and sleep on a futon or sofabed in the lounge.

Don't lie to the landlord, that's crappy for them it's up to them who they let to and not fair to trick them into having tenants they don't want.

Oh and hopefully you've sorted it so your EX is paying a decent rate if maintenance for your DD? If not contact CSA- that can go towards the rent. Check as well you are claiming child tax credit ad working tax credit if you are entitled to it.

Or you could just do what the other poster above suggested and live in a caravan! (sorry).

Some councils don't class a child as needing their own room until they hit a certain age, so just check with your council to make sure you would be classed as overcrowded if that's your plan.

I own a new build flat, and they really aren't anywhere near as spacious once you have furniture in, I would love to be able to sell up and buy an older property - cant even fit a chest of drawers in the master bedroom once the double bed is in

What would the difference financially be between a 1 and 2 bed flat rather than the house you're currently in? It really would be tough in a 1 bed with 2 of you :)

Can't your ex help you with CMS or taking your daughter for a day so you can work 5 days? £570.00 doesn't seem an insurmountable amount with CMS or help from your ex.

I'd just like to disabuse you of the statement 'and then we'll be overcrowded and I can get council housing'. No, not by the law you won't be. A one bedroom property is considered suitable housing for one adult and one child in social housing terms - and you won't be overcrowded until your kid is at least 10 because before then she only counts as half a person, and a one bed is for two people.

Bit rich for you to talk about 'unemployed filthy*' council tenants when you can't afford a suitable property for yourself and child.

*Suspect this is another one of those fake posts designed to rile people.

@JustAnotherLawyer2 I imagine the op has her council house by now, it’s been nine years.

Sorry you lost all sympathy at unemployed people living in council houses and often keepin them filthy when hard working families that would care about the house hale no chance of getting acouncil property and receive no real support.

But I'm feeling generous.
Are you sure you're getting all the benefits you're entitled to? Have you applied for council tax discount? Does your council have a council tax benefit? This is separate to UC and the amount varies from council to council. Does your council have a discretionary housing payment scheme? They might take your commuting costs into account.

Don't lie to purposely make yourself over crowded. I'm sick of paying over inflated private rent costs while others have "twisted" their living situation to push themselves up the council housing list.
See. Anyone can claim its so unfair
Are you getting child maintenance from your ex at the correct rate?

Oh ffs. Didn't realise it was a fucking zombie thread!!!

Hahahaha! I normally check the date of posts so I don't waste my time!

Gave me a laugh though, so not wasted. :)