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Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

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Original poster

Other single parents wishing to house share?

16 replies

LivinLaffin · 04/07/2019 22:34

I've just shared really successfully in South London for 7 years with another single mum who is now about to relocate to the country. I'd like to do it again. It's so good! The support as well as keeping the costs down and you get a much nicer home and garden to live in. I'm wondering if there are any more like-minded people out there? I have two teens - 13 and 16. Ideally i'd love to share with a parent who is in the same decade as me 40s (or 50s). I'm open to single dads too - though not sure how many of those i'm going to reach on here...
Do shout if this sounds like something you might be interested in!

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Littlefluffycloudos · 08/07/2019 12:22

I’m not in the position to do so now but it sounds like a wonderful idea. I’m splitting from my husband and the thought of being lonely is really stressing me out. I’m in South London too. Just wrong timing....I hope it works out for you!

ThighsRelief · 08/07/2019 12:25

I've always thought it sounds like a great idea. Do you end up becoming 2 parents more or less?

Original poster

LivinLaffin · 08/07/2019 12:56

thank you ladies. Best of luck to you FLC - it is a stressful time but perhaps when you are ready you could set up a house-share of your own and take some of that stress away - i highly recommend it! And yes TR - you do end up doing a certain amount of co-parenting. I was cagely about that at the start but actually my kids benefitted from it so much. When it comes right down to it what the other adult really does is help socialise your child, lay boundaries and encourage courtesy. And sometimes (in our case) will be your bad cop so you get to be good cop - single parents will know what a blessing that is!

OP posts:

raspberryk · 08/07/2019 20:57

I sort of looked into that but it seemed like it would be less beneficial as I was on benefits at the time and the other income would have meant I'd have less money.
Would have been awesome though. X

moofolk · 08/07/2019 21:14

@raspberryk the other person's income doesn't affect your benefits as you are living as two households in one building.

I am living like this now it's brilliant.

Original poster

LivinLaffin · 09/07/2019 18:47

yes - moofolk is right
two incomes only count if you are a couple

OP posts:

littlefluffycloudos · 09/07/2019 20:54

For those who have done this - what is the best way to find potential candidates?

ThighsRelief · 10/07/2019 23:27

If you had 2 kids each boy/girl would the children from the same family share or same sex? Just thinking how many bedrooms you'd need.

OP you must miss your "OH" were you tempted to move to keep the "family" together?

Original poster

LivinLaffin · 11/07/2019 08:46

Hi ThighsRelief
My 'OH' wanted to move to the country and I'm a city girl and i didn't want to uproot my girls either. Also with the rent/bills split we were able to afford a house where everyone got their own room. But there are no rules to this - you can do whatever suits each arrangement.

littlefluffyclouds - I found my 'OH' advertising on a local forum. I had quite a few responses and was very careful talking to people and said no to a few candidates. You have to - it's your children's home! And eventually I found someone. It took a while. This time it looks like we are going out on our own - i don't have the time to do it again. But my boys are older now and i don't feel i need the same support but i would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone thinking about it.

OP posts:

raspberryk · 11/07/2019 09:28

Two incomes don't only count if you're a couple, also looked at sharing with my brother and they would have counted his income, as he was earning a fairly decent wage I would have got nothing besides child benefit!

Original poster

LivinLaffin · 11/07/2019 10:04

Maybe because a brother is family? In our case we took advice from Child Tax Credits (and at one time Housing Benefit also). We explained what we were doing and were classed as two different families albeit under the same roof.

OP posts:

Aggiebleu · 11/07/2019 20:57

Hi Ladies,

I'm intrigued by house sharing with other single mums. I'm pregnant now and struggling to find a 1-bed or even studio I could afford.

Where would one find other mums looking to share? Are there specific forums or websites?

Thanks

Littlefluffycloudos · 11/07/2019 23:46

I googled it @Aggiebleu and there was a London website dedicated to finding flatsharers for single parents. Not sure where you are though. Good luck

Aggiebleu · 12/07/2019 09:35

I'm in London too (hence not being able to afford a 1-bed! Ha!). What was this website?

pickledparsnip · 12/07/2019 09:46

Absolutely love this idea!

Littlefluffycloudos · 12/07/2019 09:54

www.movethat.co.uk/London/Forum/Single_Parents/

@aggiebleu This one seems to have quite a few posters on it

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