Housing. .

[kel2008]

My ex walked out on me and our lil un,leaving us with a mortgage and rent too pay (part buy part rent basics)He does help with lil un a bit but im finding it a struggle as all of lil uns money is paying the mortgage,council wont help or HA,s. Has any1 else been left in a simular situation?! Any advice will be good thanks xx

Any chance you can sell back the part-buy bit or a percentage of it? Or is it possible to downsize or swop within the scheme? Have you checked your rights to other benefits? Sorry, don't know the name of the site, but someone will come along who does - that or post again asking for a link. Good luck.

Thanks hun,cant downsize as its only a small flat as it ishave to say havent asked about swapping but dont think i can do that,or maybe i could,thing is they did tell me before they wouldnt buy it back id have to find a buyer,get help with the rent but not alot as still have to find mortgaga money plus other bills on top,really dont know who to turn to next x

Deep breathe - financial stress is awful.

How about approaching your mortgage providers - can they help: can you get a break, can you go interest only until your LO is at school? If you have to sell, can they give you a break until you do, and simply add the money onto what you need to return. If you are selling, check if you get priority on any housing lists? Have you made sure you are getting a reduction on council tax?

Have you been to CAB about money? Keep bumping this - there are loads more people on MN who know more than me about benefits and finances - maybe even try re-posting in Legal/money matters?

Thinking of you - it's tough enough being on your own without the finances making it impossible.

Are you working or on benefits? I assume if his maintenance is paying the mortgage you are not on benefits as you wouldn't be able to keep the maintenance...

If you're not working get yourself a job doing 16 hours a week. You will get WTC & CTC, help with childcare costs, possibly help with housing benefit towards the rental part and some council tax benefit too possibly(depending on how much maintenance you are getting though).

Make sure you are claiming everything you can.

Have you sorted out the financial matters as to who owns the flat and is the mortgage in your name now? You don't want to be paying your child maintenance towards a mortgage that he's going to claim back a share of!

Gilly

shelter

phone them and ask for advice they have legal people you can speak to they know their shit

also you need to go to your loacl CAB

Good luck!
I know what it's like when your home is threatened. I recieved income support from when ex left and (with solicitors help) managed to hold on to house until was entitled to help with mortgage. (40 long weeks...!)

Yes i do work doing just over 16 hrs a week so i do get working tax cred and CB,and yes ive got my coucil tax reduction and little help with the rent,still proving hard to stay here as its so expensive but no1 will let me go on their list to "just rent" as im low prority. . .answer to other question my ex is still on the mortgage as im on a low wage dont think they will let me stay as they would see that i cant afford it on my own.