Creative ways to find rental property

[Polestar50]

I'm trying to help a friend find rented accommodation for her little family (herself, 10 year old and cat) and would appreciate any ideas on finding rented accommodation (we are in a small town in the SW).

She has absolutely been through the mill this last year. Left an abusive relationship, got herself a tiny cosy house and 2 part time jobs then discovered breast cancer and spent the last 9 months undergoing chemo, surgery and radiotherapy.

All clear now thankfully but in the last couple of months she has also found out that a) both her jobs are no longer available and b) her landlord needs to move the house back ASAP due to his own health problems.

She is now unemployed, losing her home and is battling the effing universal credit system to get the benefits she is entitled to. They keep giving wrong info and changing the amount they say she's entitled to, which is incredibly emotionally draining and undermining for her.

She is a very good prospect for a landlord (very trustworthy, super clean etc) and intends to get back to work ASAP but sadly her situation just doesn't look good on paper right now and it seems people are generally reluctant to rent to people on benefits.

I am desperately cross on her behalf that each time she gets back on her feet, life keeps knocking her down again. She is resilient and still smiling but really could do with a break and at least a ray of sunshine in the future right now.

Does anyone have any ideas on places to look or creative ways to find good private rented accommodation? She is on Gold level for social housing but nothing is coming up locally and she needs to move by mid December really.

She is doing Facebook call outs, cards on noticeboards, signed up to estate agents etc.
Any advice/ideas will be gratefully received!

Sorry, that should read 'the landlord needs to move back into the house'

Gumtree ad?
Council may have a list of acreddited landlords.

I was going to suggest Facebook as there are quite a few group's and pages of landlords etc advertising properties which cut out the agents making renting more affordable. The situation sounds incredibly frustrating, the rental market is fierce! Our Landlord is making noises about selling and the council waiting list is as long as anything especially for larger properties which is what we currently need we are only in a 2 bedroom at the moment.

Sorry I couldn't be any help, it seems as if she's doing everything she possibly can do at the moment. Hopefully other suggestions will arise!! X

Thanks for the well wishing!
Hadn't thought of Gumtree so that's another avenue.

It is hard as its not so much the landlord being funny about benefits alot of the time it is conditions of the mortgage they cant take tennants who claim.

So might be better looking for a professional landlord who has several properties who is less likely to have mortgages and be tied into their stipulations (if that makes sense?)

Our local council have a lettings scheme which is separate to the social housing register - worth having a look at their website to check.

Also, post on local FB groups - you'd be surprised at the number of lettings locally that come up when someone asks about it on ours. I know you said she'd done callouts, but the groups are effective.

Is she going back into the estate agents? Being on top of their thoughts helps

Does she go to church? I know our local vicar is so on the pulse of everything locally that she is the go to person for rehoming dogs etc and would ask around I'm sure on lettings

Also references. From her jobs, current ll, personal ones, current neighbours - especially if she has a pet - that it not a nuicance etc!

Where in the SW? it's a big area.