Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

What would happen if I can’t find anywhere to rent?

47 replies

Cabbagewhites · 30/08/2021 01:58

This is a hypothetical situation. I live and work in a rural community, I work for the local council.
At the moment I am fortunate to be renting a nice flat and all is well. I’m also saving to buy: as soon as a suitable house comes on the market, I’ll be looking to get a 90% mortgage and get on the ladder. I have a salary of £38k and I live alone.

I have noticed that there are very very few properties available for rent, which has been the case for six months now. At the moment all of those that are, are HMOs where individual rooms are let out. 1 or 2 bed flats and cottages are very very rare (everyone has decided to Air B&B them 😠). I regularly search what’s available and affordable within 25 miles of my workplace and the answer is: little to nothing.

If my landlord were to terminate my rolling tenancy, I would have a month to find somewhere else to live. If I were unable to find a house to buy or rent that was affordable within a commute to work, I would be in a real pickle! It would be tantamount to being made homeless! There are family members I could move in with, but they are all 100+ miles away and I definitely couldn't commute.
Moving into an HMO would be possible, but would mean selling my furniture and many belongings, I am over 35 and really don’t see cohabiting with strangers as a healthy way for me to live at my stage in life, my mental wellbeing would plummet I am sure.

I assume on my salary and with savings there’s no chance I’d get social housing? In which case I would probably have to choose between my career and having a roof over my head! It seems bizarre?

Obviously this is hypothetical, but could easily happen if my landlord also decided to go the Air B&B route and kick me out 😬

Anyone ever been in this situation or know if there’d be any options open to me other than to start job hunting?

Thanks

OP posts:

NatriumChloride · 30/08/2021 02:20

Hopefully things won’t come to that OP, but you’re right to keep your eyes peeled on your local property market for something suitable. I think the worst case scenario would be that you might have to move into an HMO. You wouldn’t necessarily have to sell your possessions - you could pay for a storage unit.

NannyAndJohn · 30/08/2021 02:36

Move further away from work and suck up the longer commute.
Move into an Air BNB temporarily until something suitable comes up.
Hold your nose and move into a HMO.

Also, could you WFH? Then it wouldn't be a problem for you to move closer to family.

NannyAndJohn · 30/08/2021 02:39

And I don't know how long it will be before you're able to buy, but as soon as something decent comes up to rent it may be worth giving notice on your current place and moving regardless, just to give you a year's security.

Fredoftheforest · 30/08/2021 06:42

You wouldn’t qualify for social housing. You’d need to sell or store your belongings and move into an HMO.

Dazedandconfused10 · 30/08/2021 06:46

The landlord gives one month's notice to let you know they can take you to court to get you out. So realistically you can have longer than a month to find somewhere

Original poster

Cabbagewhites · 30/08/2021 09:15

Thanks all. It’s rather sobering. I am not going to live in a HMO, it is not a lifestyle I want or could be happy with.

I imagine I would put up with a long commute for a couple of months but if nothing came up I would have to give in my notice due to lack of housing.

I am not easily replaced at work, my team are constantly operating with unfilled vacancies. The council need to wake up and get building!

OP posts:

maofteens · 30/08/2021 09:18

Is there a reason you have a rolling contract? Can you ask for a fixed term?
I was really surprised when one of my tenants, who had a two year lease, declined to do another fixed term. Since COVID she has not paid full rent, and I gave her three months off paying rent entirely initially, so I have grounds to evict her. I have no plans to sell (or evict) but only getting 70% rent is hurting my finances.
Conversely, I want possession of another flat in six months for my son. The tenants are not permanent residents, and I am annoyed at the managing agent has said to renew again for 12 months with a six month break clause, rather than just giving them a six months lease. I don't think this is fair on the tenants and I asked her to make it clear I am 90% likely to terminate at six months.
So for your security I'd be trying to get a fixed term.

SpicyJalfrezi · 30/08/2021 09:19

What’s a hmo?

Original poster

Cabbagewhites · 30/08/2021 09:26

I’m on a rolling contract as I’m hoping to buy asap. I’ve got another thread here talking about how I recently had to pull out of a purchase. Really hoping more property comes up for sale this autumn, as renting here suddenly seems v.precarious (it wasn’t before, seems to have happened since Covid).

HMO = house of multiple occupation. Student digs, basically.

OP posts:

SpicyJalfrezi · 30/08/2021 09:37

Oh, sorry!

I know what you mean and I would hate this too. Potentially better than homelessness, though?

Original poster

Cabbagewhites · 30/08/2021 10:04

@SpicyJalfrezi no need to apologise!
Yes better than homelessness, although
I was being dramatic with the homelessness really, I won’t be homeless, but I may be jobless for a while if I am forced to move away.
Anyway hopefully it won’t happen. But this possibility shocked me because it had never crossed my mind before.

OP posts:

SpicyJalfrezi · 30/08/2021 10:07

I have a property that I rent out, and I was looking around to compare prices and there really isn’t much at the moment. Hopefully it won’t be an issue!

Anoisagusaris · 30/08/2021 10:08

If you look beyond 25miles from work, is there anything? You might just have to put up with a longer commute.

WhatAWasteOfOranges · 30/08/2021 10:11

Furniture in storage?

MyOtherProfile · 30/08/2021 10:13

The council need to wake up and get building!

With all their spare cash?

It's a government thing rather than a council thing. They're the reason there's a housing shortage anyway.

Cornishmumofone · 30/08/2021 10:15

My mum's neighbours are in this position. They're a couple nearing retirement. The wife works as a school dinner lady; I'm not sure what the husband does, but I know he has several health conditions. Their landlord has decided that he wants to move back into the house they rent. They're in Cornwall and cannot find anywhere to rent. They don't earn a lot and have been unable to get other jobs. They're going to become homeless :-(

greenlynx · 30/08/2021 10:19

I know a few people who were in this situation in between tenancies. One slept in his office, one moved between friends a week here a week there, one needed a place for nearly 3 months so rented holiday accommodation. It’s not cheap, he used up some savings, but he negotiated discount for a long period and work wise it’s better than the Ed other option of a very long commute.
I should add that they all were males aged between 28-35 and no furniture involved.

Original poster

Cabbagewhites · 30/08/2021 10:23

@MyOtherProfile

The council need to wake up and get building!

With all their spare cash?

It's a government thing rather than a council thing. They're the reason there's a housing shortage anyway.

Fair enough, I don’t know who decides these things. Maybe I’ll write a letter to my MP. I’m sure the situation is terrible for the local economy. No wonder my team have vacancies - there is nowhere for a young person new to the area to live!

OP posts:

Original poster

Cabbagewhites · 30/08/2021 10:25

@Cornishmumofone

This is awful, I’m so sorry. Such a sad situation.

OP posts:

Fashionesta · 30/08/2021 10:32

I worry about this constantly. Rent in an area with very few properties and high prices. I have a DD and no way can I afford a two bed in this area. If my LL suddenly decided they wanted to move back in I am not sure what I would do. I could move in with a family member so wouldn't be homeless but it seems crazy that at my age with a full-time job I can not provide a steady roof over our heads. I do worry about it a lot.

RubyFowler · 30/08/2021 10:44

Its a shocking situation. Providing secure decent rental homes should be more of a priority than the obsession with home ownership as the solution in my opinion. I'm talking in terms of government policy.

PlanDeRaccordement · 30/08/2021 10:58

You’re basically choosing the most insecure way of renting by insisting on a rolling tenancy. If it really bothers you, why not at least do a six month lease? Even if you found a place to buy today, you’d not be done and moving in within a month anyway. And under any tenancy agreement you always have option of providing 60days notice to leave the property. So say you do a six month lease, and on the second month provide 60 days notice, you’d end up staying for 4 out of the 6 months. The LL can only get back any lost rent for the last 2 months on your tenancy which is highly unlikely as they are sure to find a replacement tenant and experience no loss. I say highly unlikely because you’ve said your type of flat is “very rare” and so must be snapped up very quickly.

moohoop · 30/08/2021 12:09

If it happens I'd post on local Facebook group asking if anyone has a room to let as a lodger or a property for a few months.

This has worked for friends in a similar situation when they were waiting to buy and the landlord gave notice.

Being a lodger with someone would be preferable to HMO and if only a few months it would be tolerable.

We have a self contained studio in our garden that I'd happily rent cheaply to a friend in this situation as well.

myheartskippedabeat · 30/08/2021 12:51

@Cabbagewhites
Let's hope it doesn't come to that

But I'd be chatting to a couple of local estate agents telling them your budgets and letting them know your interested in mailing lists etc...

Get a mortgage in principal agreed

We are always getting flyers from local estate agents saying properties in your area are needed and dong for a valuation

I'd be trying that
Hope you find somewhere xx

Peeceandquite · 30/08/2021 12:58

Why are you even worrying about it? Probably will never happen.

There are thousands of people in similar situations and you are in a much better position than most as you are able to buy.

If we were to be given notice we would very likely end up homeless. I really don't give it much head space though, because what's the point?

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread