No rental properties. Going to be homeless and so scared

[Cola133]

We are a family of 4 mature adults, ages 78, 68, 47 & 43. We can afford rent up to £2k pcm, but there are just no properties available. We have searched up to 40 miles within all directions from my sister's job, but the competition is so fierce and we keep losing out despite being financially stable and looking for long term! I am absolutely in despair, we are going to be homeless! Our current landlord is selling our property, I just don't know what to do. We also have a cat and I just can't give him up. I can't sleep or eat, I might as well be dead, this situation is so awful, the worse I have ever experienced in my life. I feel so unsafe. Any advice please? Thank you

Is there any way you could rent two smaller properties close to each other?

Where do you live op and what kind of properties are you going for. And id there a credit issue with anyone taking the tenancy’s. Also are you on benefits`/

it’s an unusual living situation you have but generally if you have the earnings and there should not be an issue , I’d it four people trying to pay one rent?

Go onto Facebook in the local groups and post that you’re looking for a four bed property etc etc. I find Facebook absolutely golden fir this stuff.

Also look for where there are houses managed by estates. My friend works for a local land owner who has over a thousand properties across the country that belong to the estate and will not be sold. They want long term renters and a family like yours would be ideal. Those kind of properties are usually found through word of mouth. You need to network, network, network.

I would have thought a lot of landlords might be keen to rent to an older household. Have you tried advertising for a property, rather than just applying for thiose that come up?

Its government policy.

They are making being a Landlord really unprofitable and hard work.

So a lot are selling up now.

Problem is, there are fewer properties available to rent.

So unless people can buy, it's more difficult to actually rent a property.

Honestly that’s a little naive, I’m sure the op is making reasonable requests. But I saw some stuff, Ie rental request of one relatively low income family member working, everyone else on benefits, even ccjs, parents will sleep in the living room stuff. Don’t assume older means better.

Have you asked your current LL for advice? They often like to pass good tenants to friends as its cheaper than advertising for new tenants and not knowing who you might get. Dbros good tenants almost always find homes with people know to him if they want to upgrade or downsize.

Move up North. You can rent something for well under £1k in a lot of areas, then use the other £1k for commuting costs.

I also wonder whether you're better off renting two smaller properties.

Thank you for all your help. Financially, 2 full time workers, one retired, one on long term disability (not disabled, just ill).We are looking in the West sussex, East sussex, kent area. There just aren't many properties to let and those that are, are extortionate for what you get - which we will pay as we have funds, but the number of people competing means we don't seem to be getting a look in. I've never known anything like it! I just don know what to do. We are now extending search area, but it's all the same. I am so so scared... Just a week ago we were happy and comfortable in our current home, now the rug is pulled from underneath us.... I feel sick to my stomach, I just do t know what to do.

Wish we could but my sister has to be near her job

How long before you have to leave? Try asking on local forums eg Nextdoor app, Facebook etc. can you ring around letting agents and see if they have anything coming up? Can you extend the area where you are looking? Or be flexible with requirements?

Is a residential park an option in the short term whilst you find something more permanent?

Are any of you a couple? I mean can any two of you share a bedroom? There are plenty of 4 bed houses in Sussex for up to 2k a month but they are really 3 doubles and a single/box room. 5 bed houses will have to be above 2k.

This one has four evenly sized (but rather small) double bedrooms www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/129080117

What is it you’re not saying op, there are plenty of properties in your search area.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/131159288#/?channel=RES_LET

Hi Op, this is a situation (landlords selling up) which is becoming more common sadly and rental properties are now in short supply. How have you been notified that your landlord is selling the property? Have you been issued with a section 21 notice on form 6a?

It's the same everywhere unfortunately. There are just so many people in the same position.
Firstly, have you contacted your local council for homelessness assistance? It's worth applying for social housing too, although there's a shortage of that too but you might drop lucky.
Just be aware that the notice you've been given is just that, notice of the landlords intention to start court proceedings to gain possession of the property. You do not need to move out until possession has been granted. Although it's not ideal, it may buy you a little more time.

That sounds so scary. Would any friends be able to help your sister stay temporarily near work while she looks for another job, and have the rest of you relocate somewhere cheaper? It's not fun, but I have stayed in a lot of youth hostels for work, and you can sometimes find dorm rooms as cheap as £16-20 per night, even in very expensive cities - obviously it's expensive relative to a proper tenancy, but as a stop gap would it be in any way doable to mix that with favours from friends?

If only one of you is fixed to the area you will be better off moving somewhere cheaper if you can stomach it. It is rotten, though, and very hard on your elderly parents who presumably have all their support networks in your local area.

Have you talked to Shelter at all? They might have ideas?

That's a rather weird response! The OP has already said that they lose out in the competition for properties. It's hardly unusual for LL to take their pick of tenants rather than simply operating on a first-come-first-served basis, and it may well be some LL won't rent to the OP's family even if they can afford the rent.

Why do all 4 of you need to stay in such an expensive area for one person's job?

You obviously think this is a 'gotcha' but it really isn't.

Even if the OP is applying for every property that is suitable on the search area, each of the properties will have a lot of applicants. Also when searching for rentals on rightmove, most you are seeing will be already let, or the agents will not be accepting any more applications. Even if you manage to jump on one that's just come up, the agent will usually take a number of applications to forward to the landlord to choose from.

OP, someone else mentioned Facebook and I second this. Post on local town groups and see if anyone can put you in touch with any local super landlords with lots of houses. Also I'm sure you've already done this, but rather than looking on rightmove, contact or visit all the local letting agents and ask if they can let you know as soon as they have something suitable.

I am so sorry this is happening, I can't imagine the stress you are under.

🤣 I was evicted last summer and I can tell you it was the hell the OP described. You email and call about properties on rightmove and either get no response or told all the viewings are already booked or the landlord has already accepted an offer. You hover and refresh rightmove every twenty seconds every day for WEEKS. You occasionally jump on one fast enough to get a viewing slot. After you view it is a bidding war and personality contest with the letting agent- as landlord usually goes with whoever the letting agent selects.

And from what I understand it is even WORSE now than it was five months ago.

It seems like it, but when you enquire you are told that you are competing with about 10 other people and a lot of them have actually gone/been let on these sites and they're not take down. I've registered with all letting agents... It's just impossible.

Thank you for writing this, it's exactly as you describe. I have posted on one fb group, I'll try more. Thanks againx