Renting - 4 people in a 2 bed flat

[stormagain]

In Northeast England, I'm in search of a two-bedroom flat for myself and my three children. Despite currently residing in a two-bedroom space where we use bunk beds, rental inquiries consistently claim it's too small for us. Affording a three-bedroom is challenging.

I'm considering asking my in-laws to temporarily care for my youngest child, allowing only myself and two children to move in initially. Once settled, could they prevent me from adding my third child to our residence? Has anyone attempted this or can suggest an alternative solution?

Disregarding how my youngest child would handle the situation which I can manage, I am specifically inquiring about the contractual aspects of renting.

Changing locations is not an option due to commuting and additional childcare expenses.

WilmaWonka . Thank you so much . I'm only saying this because I can't be identified and it's embarassing but I'm actually a bit teary

Give it a go looking for a house for yourself and two kids.

What's to lose?

It makes sense that it's more attractive for a landlord to choose two people instead of four, or three instead of five etc.

Why would you be paying a year up front? That typically only happens when you can't get references. Is it your first rental property?

I paid a year up front when I'd been overseas for a long time, but it's often a red flag for landlords, for various reasons.

If two couple share a property then that property has to be registered as an HMO which entails a lot of extra work for a landlord. Unless it's a family, the legislation doesn't allow three or more people to share a property unless its an HMO.

Also when you go viewing, just take the two kids only with you. There's nothing they can do about it, they are minors and they aren't on the agreement and can't dictate whether you fall pregnant and have triplets even if you only had two children when moving in.

JustWhatWeDontNeed - Woah, didn't know that. I won't offer to pay up-front again! It's the first time I've changed properties to be honest. We've been where we are for years, and before that I was not in renting. I just was going off my first experience, where I paid up-front.

I was going to say something similar - re the legalities, how does it work if you get pregnant and have more children or you have step-children move in? Can landlords dictate how many kids you have staying with you when this can easily change?

Mamma4573 - you've crystallised my thoughts exactly, thankyou.