Massive wake up call about renting

[madcatladyforever]

I've always owned my own home from age 21 as houses were around £15,000 in those days and affordable for everyone, I'm 57.
I never really realised how awful renting is.
I've just got divorced and lost my job so I've got a new job 300 miles away in the NHS and moved into a rented place (hovel) while my house sale and new house purchase goes through.
My mortgage will be around £200 a month, had paid it off but divorce settlement meant I had to downsize and get a small mortgage out, all affordable.
Renting on the other hand.
One bedroom flat in a shitty area, £900 a month all inclusive of bills, furnished, no washing machine so I have to go to the laundrette.
Bloody hell, the rent is 2/3rds of my salary, the flat is horrible but allows my cat, furniture looks like it came out of a skip. I'm very house proud and this place is damp, shabby, paint peeling off, floors worn out. It's horrible.
The laundrette costs £10.00 to wash and dry a load and I have to fo two loads so that's £20.00 a week as my uniforms are pure white and I can't wash them with coloured stuff.
I have to start handwashing stuff to save money and it never smells like newly washed clothes when you handwash.
Sometimes I hang wet washing in the shower to save on money for the dryer making the flat even more damp.
I have to maintain a good car because I travel miles for work and the lease and the petrol takes up nearly all the rest of my money so I'm in Aldi on a Friday evening buying all the almost out of date food and not eating properly. The landlord is constantly on my back and I can't put up any pictures or anything to make this place look more like home.
As soon as I'm in my new home everything will be affordable again and my life will be 100 times better.
This has really opened my eyes to what the majority of people have to cope with in this country and it makes me feel so ashamed.
WHY don't we have a system like Germany where you have a lifetime rental at a decent price and can do pretty much what you like to the place.
My son pays an extortionate rent in Woking and has been forced to move three times in the last three years as the landlord wants to sell or put the rent up.
If I had to do this long term I don't know how I'd cope, my mental health would really suffer.
How does everyone manage?

i rent a really great flat and have been in it the last 4 years - it is expensive (1300£ per month) But it is home and we went for unfurnished so we have been able to make it how we want it to be - i love it there!

Obviously we could get thrown out any time and it makes it difficult to save as so much goes out on rent - but what can ya do i suppose

Imagine living like that and not having your future house sale going through.

Imagine knowing that this is all you’ve got to look forward to with every increasing price until the day you die because you won’t be able to afford to retire.

Imagine all of the above and the chance of being chucked out with 2 months notice.

You’re welcome

Agree the combo of cat and short-term requirement unfortunately means you're looking at a landlord who doesn't care much what state the property is in. If they did, they wouldn't allow the cat. Obviously there's a whole spectrum of landlords and properties, but it sounds like your current circumstances are particularly unlucky. But you'll soon be in your own place so it's just one of those things. If it was permanent, you could forgo the cat and rent a nicer place if that was your priority.

I think the fact you cannot have pets while renting is another bad thing with renting and adding to the feeling that this is not really your home, even though you are paying for the privilege. Speaking from bitter experience, when you live in an area with high rents, eg London or the southeast, it's really hard to find a decent place for a decent price, whether you have pets or not. Also tenants with pets is absolutely the norm in other European countries as other PPs have mentioned.

I used to pay £800 for a shitty 1-bed flat in a cheap neighbourhood in London about 3 years ago so it sounds right to me.

Thankfully you have your house sale to look forward to and a new house, it certainly does impact on your mental health to live in those circumstances and with the added worry you're going to get asked to leave within 2 months at pretty much any time. That's what did it for me the insecurity, and knowing that I could be paying less to own a home - if I could get a mortgage, but savings constantly take a hammering on moving expenses and I don't earn enough anyway (despite showing I can pay more on my earnings in rent, and never missed a payment) even if I could save enough for a deposit.
Add to that the attitude that a lot of landlords have that they're bestowing some big favour to let you live in their house (conveniently you're not seen as bestowing a massive favour back by giving them a big chunk of money every month!) And behave like you're personally ripping them off should something in their house need repairing.
It's just another symptom of those on the lower end of the income scale being looked down upon. If you have to rent you just haven't tried hard enough, not like the sainted home owners and landlords (who own their properties because people like me pay rent)

On a practical note, you can rent washing machines. I know it's a drop in the ocean but it might make things a little more comfortable, save a tiny bit.

As for pictures, command hooks are your friend. They are temporary and don't mark the walls. My student DC use them. www.command.com/3M/en_US/command/products/~/Command-Products/Picture-Hanging/?N=5924736+8706801+3294529207+3294857497&rt=r3

How is the landlord always on your back? You have a right to peaceful enjoyment. If they don't have a legitimate reason to be contacting you, that is harassment.

@nocluewhattodoo look into 'interest only mortgages'. Banks make money off of you on the belief that you will forever only be able to afford the interest, but as you said, a mortgage works out cheaper than renting so you can then transfer to paying your mortgage. Also, the house is your to do whatever you like decoration/renovation wise.