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.

An ebike (legal one) would help with commuting. You just need to be persistent with spare room and estate agents even if places seem a bit grim. My son had to move across the country for work, his first rented room wasn't great but 6 months later he's moved into a more suitable place. We had to help him out financially with first months rent etc and he had a few weeks in an air BnB between moved. Don't give up!

He has looked at commuting but it’s a 3 hour journey each way, not sure on the cost. Premier inn/travelodge are £80-£100 per night.

Thank you for your kind words.

I feel I’m coming across very negative so I apologise. It’s just that he has had such a rough time. I really do worry about his mental and physical health.

Look on booking.com - over summer many universities let student rooms on campus. They are usually a good rate. My DS did this is Cambridge and it worked well.

Has he looked at places in Reading? I’d have thought there would be a bus from there to Wallingford.

How about commuting from Reading.
Look on Rightmove for house shares

That’s a thought, I’ll have a look. Thank you

Could he look to take a room in a group of students sharing a house that are still need of a roommate and offer to cover the council tax? If he's desperate, that might work?

Wallingford is quite a small town to begin with and fairly rural. I agree with others he needs to look at getting a bus.

Caravan site? Could you give him a rental deposit?

Good idea, just checked and there is a bus (1hr) that goes to the station and then a 15 minute walk. I’ll get him to take a look.

I know plenty of people who have to do this.

could this help
https://en.uhomes.com/uk/oxford/detail-apartments-12117

I think Didcot is probably the best bet. At least there is a direct bus.

There wouldn't be many/any students that far out of Oxford.

We are along with the first six weeks food, travel and rent.

Just saw this. Reading has cheap accommodation not too too far from the station I believe.

Very difficult time for you OP.
He is so lucky that you have his back.
We need more young people like him that are really striving to get into work.
Best mum!

Is there the option of some remote working or compressed hours so that he only needs to commute / find accommodation for a few days a week

Could he commute from home to Reading which is about 25 mins from Paddington, and then a bus to work? It's still long. Accommodation in Reading would be good as he'll need to get there on a bus anyway if he doesn't drive.

Aw thank you so much.
It just seems his whole life has been a battle. His T1 , schools, covid during A levels, university, UC and now this.

He’s bright was so happy yesterday, excited to start work, a lovely place to live and then he received her email.

He’s bright and a very hard worker. I’m sure he’s due a break soon!

He should contact some of the budget end b&b's and try to negotiate 4 weeks rental rate. Many landlords will discount considerably if they are getting 4 weeks + rent up front, and with no vacancies in between, and perhaps only cleaning room and bedding once a week.

Tree also using the Nextdoor app for Wallingford with a Room or bedsit wanted advert. T

Take care regarding potential accommodation scams

I found chatgpt helpful when I was looking for a rental for a prospective employee in a similar position. The prompt was: "Find me rentals in Wallingford or in the towns on the train line to Wallingford. 1 person, willing to share, male, add your budget. Provide links to everything you find". It's worth a go and can save you ages looking on all the different platforms yourself.

I think the places that are coming up are away from the centre, hence the long journey times.

Has he looked at reading, there’s an express bus to Wallingford. Not ideal but more likely to find lodgings, then look for something better

I know right. Just helpd out dd in small market town airbnb til her rental came thru. But the job is important to keep right?
Once on site he can ask at the company maybe someone happy to have him as lodger forfew months once they meet him and see he is nice clean presentable etc .... While he keeps looking.