Renting as a single mum in London. Let’s team up!

[Kaisy123]

Single mum can relate to how difficult to rent privately as a single mum as they usually prefer couples as two incomes better then one. So I am looking to team up with another single mum to privately rent in Central London.
I have a young toddler, so ideally someone with similar age child, so they can play together and make friends.

I am currently working part time but want to go back full time, so if another mum also will work full time, we could help each other with childcare, cause childcare is so expensive. So I could stay with kids on my days off and she could stay on her days off, then we would need nursery only one or two days a week, which is much more affordable.

so please let me know your thoughts, cause I can’t see any other solution to rent in decent area and get back full time then sharing house with another mum. This way, we won’t need to stay on benefits (that prevent us finding good flat and won’t need to spend whole monthly salary on nursery).

[Bluntfuckit]

Fraught with pitfalls I reckon.

[Stichintime]

I don't think you've considered all the pitfalls and why central London? No one actually needs to live there! It sounds like a bit of a pipe dream.

[CapturedLeprechaun]

I did this years and years ago when my kids were small, but with my best friend, who I had known my whole life. Our kids were the same age, and it was honestly the best time of our lives and it worked perfectly. They grew up like siblings, and it was like any other two parent house where we shared costs/cooking/childcare (but with a woman, not a man, so she was ACTUALLY pulling her weight and sharing the mental load). I think it could work utterly perfectly in an ideal situation - but I suspect you'd need to know the person very well in advance and ensure your kids got on, and your parenting styles were similar etc etc, and I'm not sure it's something you'll find through a site like Mumsnet. Best of luck though.

And as an aside - we stopped living together when she met someone and moved in with him. She is still my best friend now (more like a sister), and our kids are genuinely as close as siblings.

If I ever win the lottery, some sort of single mother commune is exactly what I'll set up. Where a load of happy barefoot kids run around playing, and the mums take it in turns to cook/clean/work/rest. With the right mix of people it could work so so well.

[Kaisy123]

Thank you for sharing your experience. This is exactly what I have in mind. Of course I need to meet and see if another mum is a good match to live with, but I think it’s doable.
you have a great idea about mother community group. 😀

[Kaisy123]

Nothing good comes easy, but at least it’s the opportunity to take control over your life into your own hands. Of course it will be challenging, but living on benefits and in the area where fewer well paid jobs is very hard.

[Kaisy123]

I hear you. I lived there most of my life and all my friends are there. Plus there are more jobs and well paid jobs, plus so much more.
it’s not for everyone, some people prefer countrysides or small towns and it’s fine.

[HotMessMama]

@CapturedLeprechaun

I did this years and years ago when my kids were small, but with my best friend, who I had known my whole life. Our kids were the same age, and it was honestly the best time of our lives and it worked perfectly. They grew up like siblings, and it was like any other two parent house where we shared costs/cooking/childcare (but with a woman, not a man, so she was ACTUALLY pulling her weight and sharing the mental load). I think it could work utterly perfectly in an ideal situation - but I suspect you'd need to know the person very well in advance and ensure your kids got on, and your parenting styles were similar etc etc, and I'm not sure it's something you'll find through a site like Mumsnet. Best of luck though.

And as an aside - we stopped living together when she met someone and moved in with him. She is still my best friend now (more like a sister), and our kids are genuinely as close as siblings.

If I ever win the lottery, some sort of single mother commune is exactly what I'll set up. Where a load of happy barefoot kids run around playing, and the mums take it in turns to cook/clean/work/rest. With the right mix of people it could work so so well.

I love this! It sounds like the perfect solution, please can I reserve myself a place at your commune? 😉

[Stichintime]

I was questioning why Central London. I'm a Londonder, living in zone 2 and can get central in about 20 minutes? I'm just pointing out that Central London seems a bit ambitious!

[Kaisy123]

Oh, apologies, missunderstanding . Zone 2 or even 3 -perfectly fine. I meant Central London, but meant with easy access to Central London. I really like Battersea or Wandsworth or Fulham, Putney or Hammersmith. I was not talking about Kensington, but that would be dreamy at the moment. Maybe in future).

[Kaisy123]

May I ask, are you single mum? Do you rent privately? If so, which agency or website did you use? Thanks.

[Johnnysgirl]

Those areas aren't exactly cheap, op.

[Meltingsocks]

@Johnnysgirl

Those areas aren't exactly cheap, op.

@Johnnysgirl

Goodness, how patronising. You have no idea what OP's earning potential is. I'm a single mother on six figures and I'd still benefit from someone to share the costs with. But another single mum on six figures we could totally live in Fulham.

Not all single mothers have low earning potential ffs

[Johnnysgirl]

@Meltingsocks

@Johnnysgirl

Goodness, how patronising. You have no idea what OP's earning potential is. I'm a single mother on six figures and I'd still benefit from someone to share the costs with. But another single mum on six figures we could totally live in Fulham.

Not all single mothers have low earning potential ffs

She mentioned being on benefits

[Kaisy123]

I know , but let’s say we both work and rent two bedroom with a living room for about 2500- that’s possible! Each pit 1250 towards the rent. If we both work full time, plus universal credit top up- it’s absolutely fine! Try benefit calculator and you will see it’s possible 😀

[Kaisy123]

Thank you, yes, exactly! Not every single mum is on low income, but paying 2100 a month for nursery is a big cost! So it would be nice to share house or flat with someone, gives opportunity to save on childcare and even save for buying a house).
actually to buy a house with another single mum is also an idea, instead of wasting money on rent, this could work too

[SeasonFinale]

I don't think you understand how the UC housing top up works

[Johnnysgirl]

@Kaisy123

I know , but let’s say we both work and rent two bedroom with a living room for about 2500- that’s possible! Each pit 1250 towards the rent. If we both work full time, plus universal credit top up- it’s absolutely fine! Try benefit calculator and you will see it’s possible 😀

I don't need to thanks, I'm not on benefits <says she patronisingly 🤨>
And I already live in one of the areas mentioned.

[FernsAndFlowers]

If you Google ‘single parents sharing home’ you will see a couple of guardian articles plus a few mumsnet threads from over the years - they will probably make for useful reading! Good luck with your search OP 😊

[Meltingsocks]

Yes she did @Johnnysgirl, presumably because she's working part time. Full time she could be making a good wage.

[Kaisy123]

I mentioned being on benefits and working full-time! Even if you earn 40-60k a year, you still get a good support by benefits, that’s what I meant. Living purely on benefits is really hard, especially now when recession is kicking in. It would be nice to be able to work full-time, live in Central London zone 2-3, so it’s ok to get to work to Central, save cash on nursery plus have a friend or even if not a friend- a person who is in similar situation and has mutual goals( getting off benefits, saving to buy a house, cover each other when one wants to go out etc).

[Kaisy123]

I actually do. But please share your experience if I missed something

[nzeire]

Oh! I had a friend that did this, it was bloody brilliant for them! Better house than they could have dreamed of on their own, the kids and mums were just one big happy family for about 5 years. I was envious!

[Kaisy123]

Thank you, I saw them)

[UneasyMe]

“Even if you earn 40-60k a year, you still get a good support by benefits”

Do you?! I’m a lone parent at the bottom of that range, and all I get is single person council tax and child benefit.

[Kaisy123]

Yes, that is correct. I am working part-time but would love to work full time, so simply trying to find the best way to get back on my feet.