Moving house with no support and little money!

[AMAZINWOMAN]

I may be moving house soon but the thought of moving with no help terrifies me.

My landlord is a joke and won't give the deposit back and it's likely I'll get a council flat soon.

But how do I move?

Most of my furniture is flat pack, so will probably break. My bed is held together by superglue as it broke when I put it together.
My son's bed is held together by nails, so I won't be able to bring that!

My gas cooker is on its last legs, so is it really worth paying to get it moved? But then buying a new one is expensive.

I have no car, and really would prefer to move a few bits in before the big day. Where we are now is so small so packing would be a bit of a nightmare!

I think I can disconnect the washing machine and plumb it back.

I'm stressed just thinking about it. And i have no holi

If you have no car do you know anyone who would be happy to let you use theirs to move stuff?
Can the council suggest any schemes or volunteer groups who may be able to help?

If not you're going to have to hire a van and move as much as you can in one day.

Find out what is available and work out your budget from that.

Don't worry about the big items for now. Start thinking about all the 'small' stuff you'll need to box and move - crockery, pans, clothes.. it all gets quite bulky. Do you have cases you can pack stuff into? Or are you going to have to start collecting boxes?

Flat pack is movable - if it's wobbly though would think carefully.
Your ds's bed for example, you could take the mattress for now and look at getting another bed in a few weeks time.

Washing machine is realitvely easy to unplumb, make sure the water in for it is turned off though (not for the whole house obviously)
Only thing is it weighs a tonnes, so think about how you will get it into a van if you hire one. ALso check to see if it has bolts to hold the concrete blocks inside for transporting.

If you can't afford to buy replacements for your ds's bed then look at something like Kays/Littlewoods which let you pay oit off weekly. Be in no doubt though that their prices are higher than elsewhere, but you do get your item now and get to pay over 20/40 weeks for it.
Otherwise secondhand shops do have reasonable furniture at prices you can barter for. Be sure to look locally and ask if they will deliver (to the new address) and be prepared to ask for teh delivery to be included or barter that too!

Freecycle?

Why won't he return deposit?

the landlord is a joke. If I were to be a day late he would hassle me for money, but when jobs need doing he never returns calls or picks up the phone. He has also moved a few times and has told me NOT to tell the other tenants!!

He may return it or some of it, but I know there will be a huge battle.

I'll try the council as I didn't think of them. Which department would it be?

It scares me that I still have nobody to help me. I have always hoped that one day things will change, I'll get some support, but no it just continues. My strength and positivity has been slowly but surely chipped away.

OK, if you continue to concentrate on the fact that you have to do this on your own, you are wasting time you could use on sorting the situation over.

You need to take some decisions, as help is not going to fall from the sky unless you start pulling strings here and there.

The first thing is to make a list of things you need to take with you like mattresses, a handful of kitchen utensils and crockery, clothes that are still wearable and fit, the washing machine, etc.

Things not worth to be taken with you, you need to start binning as you go, do NOT let them pile on. And, if you don't have charity shops near to you for things that may still have some use for others, just bin them, otherwise they would be adding to the cost of moving and takingspace in your new place. (And in any case, they may stay there with you, cluttering the space for a few years months more)

Start hoarding boxes for the things you need to move, make sure you do even a little bit of packing every day.

And... start saving to pay to someone to help you move. If you have everything packed and organised by the time they come to collect it, it need not to be expensive (I managed to move the contents of a 3 bedroom house for £50 in 2 hrs, just because everything was packed and ready to get in the truck before they arrived, so... instead of a full day, doing the move took one hour at each house).

You can do it, if you get organised.

when did your tenancy start?
Did your landlord protect your deposit and gave you a certificate for it?
Do you know that if he did not protect it you may be entitled to 3 times the amount?

by the way do not mention this to him as he can do it now, even if by law he should have done it within 14 days from the beginning of the tenancy

OP where are you? I have a couple of removal guys who are just fantastic and even to the bubble wrapping for you at very decent price

Maelstrom, yes you are right. It's just winter always gets to me, even though I'm sitting on top of my SAD box as much as possible! But I have needed a virtual kick up the backside.

Do supermarkets give out boxes? where else can I get some?

I will need to hire a van and driver, and ask if he has a trolley for the washing machine. Will that really be as cheap as £50 for three hours?

Justforthisone, I'm based in Merseyside.

I have been stuck here for over 5 years, so will need to look to see if I'm protected by this deposit scheme. I have a feeling though it started after I moved here.

I'm getting a unlikely tan out of my SAD box, so I know what you mean, but yes you need to start acting. And believe me, starting to tackle the situation will give you a sense of achievement the SAD bow won't be able to match. (But keep the box on, otherwise you may feel a bit sluggish during the process).

Supermarkets are a good place to find boxes, particularly places that do not provide customers with bags. If you work in an office environment, start taking home the boxes the paper for the office comes in.

shame... the scheme has been put in place on 6 April 2007

I know people have mentioned Freecycle earlier, but I would toss the stuff that is falling apart and grab some new stuff on it.

I am pregant and just picked up a lovely cot from someone ... and there are often beds that come up!

And it will be ok but feel free to rant if need be.

I moved with very little (help or belongings) when I split with ex.

I would say think about what is essential. Just taking mattresses is a good idea, and that way you won't be tempted to get into debt buying a brand new, expensive one. I got DS a metal bed frame from B+M recently for £30, or try local paper or freecycle.

Take the opportunity to declutter, it's nice to have a new place with clutter free pboards and drawers.

Maybe you could raise some money for moving van as you declutter?? Advertising clothes, toys, books, etc on ebay/local paper/mumsnet/amazon may get you a little extra cash??

Is there anyone you can shamelessly rope in on moving day?? I thought Ihad no one to help, and shamelessly asked two mums in the school playground - urns out I couldn't ave done itwithout them and it was the start of a great friendship. Maybe someone at work, a neighbour, any random acquantance? If you are like me this thought will fill you with horror but sometimes needs must!

Are you on Income Support by any chance? If so, you could be eligible for a Community Care Grant- basically, you get a form, list all the living essentials you need (beds and cookers completely qualify!), the DSS assess it, and give you an amount of money (-always considerably less than you've asked for). Those nice peeps at the Jobcentre have the forms and will explain it all in more detail.

(Does it show that I used to be a housing support worker??)

I'm just gutted that people on tax credits aren't eligible...I, too, may have the chance of a council flat in the near future, and am wondering how I'm going to afford the essentials, as the place I'm in now is fully furnished.

I find the classified ads in the local paper an absolute goldmine for furniture etc- much cheaper than 2nd hand shops...You get to meet an odd good cross-section of the population too!

Oh yes, so the key to these CCGs is to considerably over-estimate everything, so that you get awarded the money you actually need! (Use the Argos catalogue as a price guide- because the DSS do!- then buy 2nd hand!)

wrt deposit protection

if a new tenacy has been signed or the rent increased after april 2007 your deposit should be protected

it is worth checking

i successfully sued a landlord over this and won a considerable sum of money

if on income support/jsa, can you get a budgetting loan?

Hey, Are you working hun? If you are on income support, you could be able to claim a Community care grant, which should cover the basics and you don't have to pay back,
as well as a budgeting loan (which you do have to pay back), or a crisis loan.

If you are working then try saving a little each week/ month you are paid, and contact the local council to see what help you can get. A housing officer is often the best point of call.

Also find out about charities in your area, when i moved into my house, i was donated some bits by children in need.

Freecycle is a great place to start, you can even put a wanted ad up for boxes

I happen to know wilkinsons have some good offers on children's beds for as little as £40 at the moment

Charity shops will often collect

Write a list of everything you need to take with you, then check them off the list when packed, make sure you do a little packing every day, in an organized fashion. Mark all boxes & bags clearly.

When looking for removals shop about, IF you are organised it will be fairly cheap, I paid £70 to move from a 4th floor flat to my 2 bed house, because everything was packed, organised and all in one place.

Clean your current property throughout before you leave, make sure it is in a good condition & take photographs - it's worth taking your tenancy to your local homelessness officer who should be able to advise you on recovering your deposit, failing that the CAB are always handy.

Hi! im in a similar situation moving wise...although im still in the process of obtsining a new house, but my landlord has been great!
i too am based in merseyside, and found when i moved to where i am no ( 4 years agao) that the revive stores are great and they have a sliding scale for pay depending upon circumstance and income. got my ds a bed for a few quid with new matress and delivered for £12, have recently help a friend move and she got a houseful fo furniture for under £100, i have been lucky enought to replace over time. also like others have said go to CAB or your local job centre and they will be able to advise of any help you can get weather you work or not.

Could you talk to your local social services and enquire if there are any charities that would be able to help.
In my area there are charities who give out second hand (but always in good nick/clean) washing machines, sofa's etc, whatever they get donated.
They may even be able to help with moving you?

Also, ask EVERYONE you know!
A woman my mum knew arrived here with nothing (don't know the circumstances), people rallied round (most didn't even know the woman) and she had almost everything she needed given to her.