I need a hand hold and a magic wand

[Orangeblossomboom]

Hi MN
I'm struggling enormously today & would love a handhold/some support.
Not telling any RL friends just yet.
Single parent, DD's dad hardly involved, just found out last week I'm being made redundant in 2 months time & need to move out of my house (landlord selling) at the same time (they served notice last year) ... was just about to start looking for a new place (much easier when you're not about to lose yr job) & cannot afford to buy (London)...
Landlord is selling as he's in financial difficulty.
DD is 11 & starting to become aware that I'm stressed & distracted...
Feel like an absolute failure.
Single mum for 9 years and have always kept us afloat but feel like this is the end.... 😭

Could you move out of London?

Everything we know/have is here - family aren't around but great friends/support network are here. Could afford to stay here when I get a new job, just finding a new place without a job will be really hard. Wd be the same anywhere I expect?

I think less expensive elsewhere. Sounds like you have friends around. Can you lean on them for support?

Remember that it will take longer to get you out than it states on your end of term lease.

You don't have to immediately go if you've got nowhere. Obviously that's not ideal but if you stay put and they have to serve paperwork through court, your local council are then obliged to help...though given that you're in London, this could mean you get put in a B&B temporarily....and that can sometimes mean years.

Where are your family? Do you get on with them?

Thanks @FortunesFave

I need to remember that. Keep panicking. Awake since 515am panicking.
Family are ok - we keep in touch a bit.
Wouldn't move nearer to them or anything.
My friends are my family really.

Are you in an industry where it will be ok to find another job?

Oh and have you any savings? I must say., I would be tempted to find a small rental immediately...and move in before your redundancy happens.

Then you're housed at least...and you will receive rent assistance.

My DSS lives in London and us looking for a new rental at the moment. He commented that Brexit/Covid does seem to have had an effect - there's more available, bit cheaper and in nicer areas. It might not all be doom and gloom. Lots of people are moving out.
What are your prospects for getting another job quickly? Is it the sort of work you need to get permanent/full time or are there shorter term options?

You say your friends rather than family are your support group so you cannot move from London. How will your friends support you? Can you move in temporarily with them or will they act as guarantors for a new rental? As suggested, you could try and get a new rental asap before redundancy although that would only work with landlords who don't take employers' references.

Can you look for new place now and move while still employed? Also ask you company to furlough you then make you redundant that means you will have some income and buy you some time till end of March (more if government extends) to find a new job etc.

Thanks so much for all your replies.
Haven't been able to find anywhere decent just yet & scared this will happen with the next place (LL will sell). It's all so unfair for single parents sometimes.

Renting is such a lottery isn't it?

@FortunesFave it sure is! And so expensive 🤯

I've left England but rented there for years. Now I rent in Australia. What strikes me about England is how difficult it is to secure a rental. I remember DH and I having hell because we didn't earn that much....we couldn't get a guarantor as nobody we knew was stable enough financially.

We did end up with a tiny council flat though...but that was only once we were on the brink of homelessness. That's awful I know...

In Australia, it's so much easier to get a rental. They just want a reference from your last landlord and your financial proof...if you don't have the deposit, the government pays it.

The housing situation in the UK needs to be sorted out badly. More social housing should be built immediately.

Sending you a handhold. I can see how you wouldn’t want to uproot your DD and move away from London.

When job searching can you apply out of London on the outskirts perhaps? I hope you find something soon.

I would register with the council and make them aware of your situation from now OP.

@FortunesFave wow sounds much better in Aus. I have such fond memories of travelling around Australia when I was 19/20...
Yes the lack of social housing & the sky high rents makes it impossible to have a long term home as a single mum.
Makes me so sad.

And there ARE jobs and people hiring - you sound very together and employable. Good luck!

Thanks for your kind words @NooNooMummy -

How's it going today OrangeBlossom? Are you any further with your search? Or have you implemented any new plan?

Sending you best wishes. Your situation isn't fair at all but I hope that something really good comes out of it for you. I would agree with previous posters about finding somewhere before redundancy so that you can have rental assistance. Have you spoken to citizen's advice to see where your rights are in regards to being asked to leave? They usually have a lawyer working for them in housing. Also you should know that if you lose your job and end up on welfare your landlord cannot evict you by law. You should confirm this with citizen's advice as it was a previous landlord who told me this, but it seems true.