Hi!
Ok so my situation is I've been in my private rented house for 6 years with my 8 year old son who has aspergers.Never a late rent payment or any issues. The landlord has said I'm the prefect tenant but sadly due to ill health and old age the landlord is looking to sell the house and will evict me once it's sold.
The problem I'm having is that I can't find anywhere to rent in my hometown. I claim housing benefit as I am a single mum but I do work so I've also an income, my son receives dla so that also tops up household income. So I'm capable of paying rent on time, I've also been lucky that my mum can lend me a deposit and first months rent up front, but no landlords will rent a house to me because I get housing benefit!
Some people have told me to lie about receiving benefits but I really don't want to lie and risk losing a house if the landlord found out.
Other people have advised me to leave the area to somewhere cheaper with more houses for rent but my son is in school and has his care workers here, also I need the support of my family who live locally. I don't drive so the upheaval of leaving my hometown would be massive, a new school and new job and a MASSIVE amount of stress for my son.
What do I do? ! The council won't house me until I'm living on the streets and even then I could end up in shared temporary accommodation. My son just could not handle it.
I don't need a council house, I can afford rent and I have deposit ready and waiting. It just seems rediculous to me.
Any advice would be much appreciated as I've no idea what I can do