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.

I feel for you and him @justacastle.
My ds's are both renting in other cities they got jobs in. Both paying a fortune in rent. Plus need deposits. And when they move flat they often have to stump up for another month's deposit for the new place before they get the deposit for the old place is returned to them. Plus the costs of needing 'a man with a van' to assist them physically moving ( because you and your car live 5 hours drive away)....
I think unless you have kids in this position its easy to say what to do...the costs are astronomical, mine both pay 1k rent a month, so thats 2k up front before moving as they need a month's rent and a month's deposit before any new landlord will entertain them.....
My ds1 has moved 5 times in as many years and ds2 has moved twice.....

All the very best to you and your son, he has done brilliant to secure a job byt unfortunately the accommodation can be as stressful.

Not one nearby unfortunately.

It's very difficult to get the right information online these days

AI is better and you need to ask it several times like the first time you ask it will give you three options or something and then you say any more anymore and it will give you more it's very strange, but that seems to be how it works

Yes, of course you need local knowledge but quite often you will find it in there if you don't have anyone else to ask

Also, he needs to go to the train station, the bus station and look at how the transport route is actually operating because again it's difficult to collect the information from different bus companies

if there's a community Centre and library, they will help to and also go to the pub nearest to the workplace
I bet they know helpful stuff. I think there will be a commut option

There's buses around here from really tiny roads that the Internet doesn't seem to understand exist it's ridiculous. Maybe it's the fault of the bus company. Don't put it all out there. Also look at coaches.

Ah OP you and your son sound lovely, well done to him on getting a job in these diffficult times.

There’s a youth hostel in Streatley-on-Thames (it’s very nice there), public transport is about 40 minutes and does involve a change, or if he got a little scooter it’s about 20 minutes away.

Not sure why UC only paid him fifteen quid but assume he had earnings taken into account. However, when he moves if he changes his address and uploads the tenancy agreement etc, he would likely be entitled to help with his rent at least until his wages come through . Not sure air b and b would be covered however.

As someone else mentioned, the universities often let out their accomodation over the summer. Might be worth checking as it would buy you a bit of time to find something more permenant

The vast majority of information used by AI is scrapped from the internet. It it's not online, it won't know it.

This is local to me. Depending on whereabouts in Wallingford, a bus from Didcot would be really easy. There’s a couple of flat shares that would be very convenient for buses (quick look on Rightmove!). Happy to help via PM if you need!

Wallingford is a 50 minute bus from Oxford (and going against traffic!) which often has housing as lots of turnover. Plus more likely to live with people his own age which is often more enjoyable.

The train station in Wallingford is one of those historical lines for steam train. They run at tourist times not commuter times.

The other thing to consider for transport would be a learner motorbike, 125 cc would probably be ok for country roads. You only have to do the CBT and you can ride on L plates. Although then your accommodation needs storage for it. Pp is right, it's expensive and stressful but everyone is in the same boat.

I live very close to Wallingford and often see people posting on the Facebook sites looking for accommodation. I agree that Reading is your best bet but there’s also Henley - slightly more expensive but rooms do come up in rowing houses.

Grew up very near Wallingford (it’s lovely by the way!). Reading and bus is definitely his best bet for now.
Once he gets to know people at work he may well find someone looking for a lodger or flatshare.
It will all work out in the end - getting the job is the most important thing and he should be very proud of himself!!!
We had a similar situation when DD moved a long way for a job. It’s hard finding somewhere to live from a distance. Very stressful so I really feel for you all xx

He hasn’t had any earnings. He hasn’t been able to get an appointment with them and all his messages have gone unanswered. He has attended all the training sessions but they are separate to the uc people.

Post on local Facebook groups and ask. We have that all the time round here and for short periods people take lodgers or rent their annexes which they normally use for family or friends. He can then start work and spend time with people local within his company able to "know someone who knows someone". It's always easier when you are there to find somewhere.

As others have said, definitely have a look at Reading; it much cheaper, there lots to do locally (its a Uni town), and good, fast connections both for getting to work and getting into London.

Post on the Chat board and get MNers to help. I helped out someone ages ago whose daughter was looking to move somewhere really close to me and I basically vetted the rooms before she put any money down. She's having a wonderful time (or was a few years ago!) so use the power of MN!

Slightly left-field, but would home-sharing be an option for him? https://homeshareuk.org/network-member/age-uk-reading-homeshare/

Just seen this! Ironically I used to work very close to there many moons ago but my knowledge isn't up to date enough to help out. But Wallingford itself is lovely so good luck!

Having done this myself once in a different city, my experience was it much easier to search once I was local. I found something pretty quickly, but the move in date was a bit past the planned stay in corporate housing. I was able to extend.

At least with my company, they just wanted to be clear it was temporary. They understood that you can’t magic an instant move in date and waiting until the first of the month is normal.

@justacastle

Is this one possible, OP?

https://www.inhouseestateagents.co.uk/properties-to-let/property/2785-brewhouse-yard-wallingford

Wallingford is pretty isolated relative to 'Oxford' Oxford but Didcot and Reading are both easy to get from. Personally I prefer Reading to Didcot but plenty of colleagues lived in both. Didcot is probably cheaper but again my knowledge is out of date!

Rightmove may have some HMOs locally

He’s going to have to commute. I had to do massive commutes and that age.!not great but it’s all about building those foundations.