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).

So nice to hear! Well done to them! I think single mums should get together and as a team we can get our life sorted. It’s possible

It's a great solution to a common problem. I know people who have done that (and written a best selling book about it). I would have done the same had I been a single Mum with young children in London.

Google Janet Hoggarth to see how it could work.

I think it's a wonderful idea. I'm a single mother in central London (not looking for a houseshare though) and I grew up in central London cooperatives and squats where life and childcare were shared as you describe. Central London is an excellent area for bringing up children as there are so many children's activities, good nurseries and primary schools, museums etc. etc. and supportive local communities.

Also wrt previous posts I know many working parents, both single and coupled, and only one who is not on benefits (due to an inheritance). This is because in London as in much of the country benefits are required for working people to pass on to private landlords. A houseshare, if you can make it work, sounds like a potentially successful way out of the benefits trap.

I stayed with another single mum friend for 3 months when our kids were younger and it was honestly amazing. Making it permanent wasn't an option for us for various reasons but it is soooo much nicer sharing a house with another woman. Sharing the mental load, childcare sharing, properly sharing the chores etc and lovely company for us and for the kids. All the things you say OP - I really hope you find someone like minded and it works out for you. It really can.

I am sorry to hear that. If you earn 40k, but live with another person(house share) in zone 2, you get over £700 per month. Guess if you live on your own, it’s different. Just go to Turntous benefits calculated, and you will see. Living on your own- renting on your own is different, you get less. It also depends on how much savings you have, if over 16k, then yes, you get very little.

Thank you for the support)

She is a writer, can you please be more specific what to google?

Thank you for your message, I appreciate it)

Awww, thank you. I will, it’s just a matter of time. It takes time to find someone who is in the sane mind frame, but it’s ok.

Sounds really sensible and don't know why it's not more common. Good luck OP

Thank you for support. I think we have to think outside of the box. That’s the way. But guess, many single mums don’t think this way. I checked other forums and so many talk about feelings and how they miss their ex or want to date. That’s ok, but first and most important in my opinion is to put feelings aside and sort out living and financial situation. One step at a time, priority is to provide for a child/children and get back to our feet.

I think it's a great idea.

I'm in a relationship and fantasise about buying a house with another couple, for similar reasons - shared childcare and to afford an actual house in the area that's always been my home - inner (not central) London. It is bonkers how the demographic of my area has changed over the course of my life.

I wonder whether you could try those apps that are like dating apps but for mums to make friends? It might be a good way to find women in similar circumstances, at the same time as working out who you might potentially get on with?

This is great idea! I did posted about it on one app, but no response. Have to keep trying, and wait, there must be someone in similar circumstances and with similar goals in mind.
about buying house with another couple is a great idea too. Much more affordable.

You do realise your UC will be very very substantially reduced by doing this?

Of course, I put that into consideration. But still, if I work full time, I still get little bit of support, so if another mum has the same kind of income( full time job plus a bit of UC), it’s totally doable. We can save lots on childcare especially if we both can work from home.

I did use online calculator to see how much I can get while working full-time, so I know my options. This is exactly why I am looking to find another mum in similar situation to work on it together and get a decent life balance etc

I tried Peanut app, but so funny many mums say they are single, when they are really not. They are co-parenting, when baby father babysit when they go to work and vice Versa, also many single mums have family members to look after their baby when they are at work. I am looking fir someone who has no support at all, so we could help each other. Seems, there not that many, as got no responses so far…

How can you save on childcare if you work from home or full time? No one can care for a couple of little l]kids and work. If you’re working, irrelevant of location you need child care, if you both work full time you both need full time child care.

Ok, let me explain. If one work 9-5, and another one work evenings, that’s a win win!

Also if one work, let’s say Mon to Fri, and I do work weekends, that’s also a win -win

There’s a website especially for this - I really can’t remember the name and can’t be bothered to look it up right now but Google it and you’ll find it!! Good luck xx

My friends-a couple. They both work full/time. She works in office, Mon to Fri, and he works weekends and some week days( working in retail), he gets usually Mon- off and wsd- off, so they pay to childcare only 3 days a week. This is what I am talking about, it’s possible to do, just like my friends. But of course it’s not easy to find someone to match work shifts this way, but it is possible 😊

So if anyone who is single mum and wants to find the way- we can totally work it out! Sure, it can take time and planning- but in the end we can be much more happier, and find a good balance. Not mentioning, to have someone to look after each other if anything urgent comes up. I help you- you help me.