Worried about my son who can’t find anywhere to live.

[justacastle]

(nc for this)
DS finished university and has spent 18 months applying for jobs (450+). A few interviews who say they recruited internally or need someone with more experience (that old chestnut). Most just never reply. We live in London.

He finally gets a job but it’s in Oxfordshire. The company will let him stay at their accommodation (usually for customers) for a maximum of two weeks.

He cannot find any accommodation after this time. He has tried spare room app but when he gets a response people are asking for females only or more often there is no reply. He messages them a couple more times but nothing.

He doesn’t drive but willing to walk/cycle. He does have T1 diabetes so that is a consideration with distance.

He then put an ‘I’m looking for’ ad another site and a woman contacted him to say that, following throat surgery, she would be renting out her 2 bed house and moving in with family. It looked amazing and the woman said that the bills & council tax. A 25 minute walk to work. Paid the holding fee and arranged viewing for Sunday (he starts work on Monday).

DS was excited about job & house finally the months of angst were coming to an end.

So this morning he received an email from the lady saying that the rental company (?) wanted an extra £750 deposit before they would let him view the property. She said that she would pay £500 but he would need to pay another £250.

DS asked who this company was (not found on companies house) and their contact details so he could discuss it with them. She replied that they ’do not speak to prospective tenants’.

She also sent him her passport details by email as proof of her identity. Trouble was that the Passport had a spelling mistake in her name 🙄 🚩

Bank notified & they’re dealing with it.

Big problem is now DS is starting work on Monday but will have nowhere to live by the end of the month. As it’s quite a tourist area the Airbnbs and bed & breakfasts are thousands. He’s on the list at local estate agents but he has no salary history yet. They are really out of his price range but we’ll help him.

Just as an aside UC have paid him nothing for months, just the odd £15 here and there.

He’s desperately worried that he will lose his job.

Any ideas folks?
I’m so sorry for the long post.

There is Oxford Brookes uni in that area. As he's only young he might be able to houseshare with some students nearby ?? It's in town not near the prestigious Oxford Uni.

I commuted to Princes Risborough from South London for 3 months - doable but wouldn't recommend - had a 30 minute walk the other end too! final 3 months I stayed at Travelodge in High Wycombe was more out of pocket but not much, now looking for a new job.

It’s not that far to Oxford. Oxford Brookes students use accommodation all over the place as Oxford students do. However there might be rooms available and the bus takes 40 mins. Check the route and see what’s around on the route. He would not want to be out at Waterperry but other areas might work. It’s the Oxford to Reading bus so various options.

It's a great idea in theory but the problem is that full-time students are exempt from paying council tax. If a non-student moves in, they'll only get a 25% discount rather than a full exemption.

It might be okay if OP's son is happy to pay the remaining 75% but some students might prefer to keep things simple by sticking with other students 🙁

@justacastle

OP, I've had a look at the database of local meeting groups attached to Diabetes UK.

The local one seems to be the Aylesbury Vale one.

They seem to have meet-ups and so on.

I wonder whether he could join their Facebook page and post that he is moving into their area soon.

Someone in the group may know of a spare room somewhere.

www.facebook.com/groups/AVDUK/

Has he tried looking in the Banbury area? An easy commute to Oxford and cheaper than the city centre.

I was basically homeless when I started my grad job , I rented a room but my landlord was a fruitcake, on Monday morning I had nowhere to stay so I slept on the sofa of some fellow grads who had rented a house together. Ask the company of there are other grads , or people at the company might be renting out a room ? He should definitely ask around people at work . As a recent grad my boss had a friend who rented out his spare room so I did that for a while too .

The job isn't in Oxford

I know its not a solution but as a temporary fix - a caravan or even Airbnb? Once the tourist season is over, there might be longer term lets that give him a bit of breathing space. It sounds like you're all (understandably) panicking right now.

Or worst case - the Oxford tube?

If it's anywhere near a hospital, check out their physical notice boards, people here often post near entrances and restaurants.

A friend who was in this position camped and then rented a caravan until she found a shared house. Just an idea; a large tent with awning worked fine for the first few weeks. Good facilities on site, she actually loved it 😀

You are absolutely right OP we don't stop worrying about our DC when they have reached 18 years old.
In the company there may be a notice board where someone will advertise for a lodger or he could post if anyone has a room to let.
Good luck to your DS with the new job and well done indeed.

if you can get a caravan you could maybe find a caravan site for a month or two and then maybe contacts at work may have some ideas

Could he get a bike/secondhand electric or a secondhand moped or something?

Two campsites in Wallingford both open late in the year, if he could borrow a campervan or caravan. Bridge villa campsite has caravans parked for over winter parking, do you know anyone with a caravan you could borrow, so a possible option. Really nice shower blocks and friendly owners at bridge villa camping.

Try Gumtree.

Then look at reading and didcot

Sorry if already suggested but there looks to be places on spare room very near Wallingford. Bikable or bus’able?

I believe there’s a new direct train service making Swindon only two stops from Oxford, also Didcot is only one rail stop from Oxford. I went to Uni in Oxford but lived in Swindon (this was years back too with less rail services). I had to change at Didcot (which I think you no longer have to do with some trains) but still managed it.

If he could find accommodation temporarily in one of these places if would then give him more time to work out something more permanent in Oxford.

Oh, my sister used to work there, not so easy for him. She commuted in from the outskirts of Reading by car as I suspect many did. She's moved now so wouldn't be able to help. Quick thought. There's a caravan park at Crowmarsh Gifford. Would that be any good out of season, for a little while?

How about hostels/youth hostels/ymca?

Or try get in touch with local vicars/churches, see if they could help at all on a temorary basis?or the local council of the small town hes moving to?

Well done on the job!

UKCEH is in Wallingford. They will have staff notice boards with accommodation offers on them. Hope your son finds something.

@AmusedGreyMember What 21 year old can borrow a caravan or camper van?

The obvious places are Didcot or Reading area on the bus route - plus get driving lessons immediately!