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Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

Lone parents

I know its nosey but can I ask?..........

24 replies

indecisiveme · 11/02/2013 21:04

How much do you pay for rent? My STBXH and I own but neither of us can afford to take on the mortgage alone. There is no equity so we have decided to sell. I am wanting to move areas (60ish miles) to be nearer my family. The problem is that they live in a fairly affluent area and the rents all seem extortionate to me. I am sure that there are single parents living in the area so there must be a way to afford it. Am I missing something? Average rents seem to be about 70% of my take home pay

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hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 11/02/2013 21:08

How many bedrooms?

Private rentals are between £630 and £1,200 a month here for a 3 bedroomed house.

indecisiveme · 11/02/2013 21:26

Thanks, yes, would need 3 bedrooms. Think I will only get housing benefit for a 2 bedroom as kids are young enough to share atm but dont want to have to move again when they are not. I have just done an online benefits calculator and I think I will get about 1000 month in benefits, that seems a lot though, can that be right?

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rootypig · 11/02/2013 21:27

we pay £950/month for 50m2 flat in east London. plus £100 council tax, £100 utilities.

not joking.

indecisiveme · 11/02/2013 21:32

OMG rootypig, how on earth do you afford that? I was ill at the thought of £700 rent for a nice 3 bed. I know London prices are high but thats awful.

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StaticSockMonster · 11/02/2013 21:37

Where are you wanting to move to?
If you're on a budget, social housing may be your best bet and IMO more secure than a private landlord. They are also regulated.

indecisiveme · 11/02/2013 21:42

Thanks Static, I would love to go down the social housing route but they are like gold dust in the area I am looking for. I will definitely apply but not holding my breath....

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rootypig · 11/02/2013 21:55

indecisive it's sickening - don't get me started on the greed of private landlords here - a decent size 1 bed flat is now £350/week where we live, and it's hardly bloody Knightsbridge, it's Tower bloody Hamlets! We pay from husband's earnings, and have fuck all other money, is the answer. we have 3 month old DD so I only have my maternity payments (statutory). We considered moving out of London when I got pg for precisely this reason, but decided to stay as we were only planning to be here for one more year anyway (so relocating hardly worth it, DH can earn more here than other cities, didn't want to start again with new baby and risk feeling isolated) - DH is American and we're moving to California in the summer. where life is better and the rents lower!

but yes, really don't get me started on f***g London landlords!

hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 11/02/2013 22:12

Are you looking for a major town/city or a smaller town/village?

zumbaholic · 11/02/2013 22:17

could you afford a morgage with shared equity? mil had this when she split with fil and the council put 25% towards a property.

RedHelenB · 12/02/2013 08:34

The likelihood with rentals is that you will need to move before your children are old enough to qualify for separate bedrooms so why not look at 2 beds to begin with?

Piemother · 12/02/2013 12:03

£775 for 3 bed medium sized terrace. But I live in Plymouth which is cheap even though its a nice area.

Now I am getting more experienced with this I would say go through an agency if you can. I have had no problems with agency fixing things immediately and not relying on a random landlord to do things when he feels like it.

Branleuse · 12/02/2013 12:12

im in colchester which is north essex. About 45 mins commute from london and my 3 bed house is £695 pcm, but is going up to 750 soon. Could probably get cheaper if you went to an estate, but I love where I live.

indecisiveme · 12/02/2013 12:22

I would love to buy but have no equity or savings. I guess I may have to look at 2 beds, just feels like a massive step back for us. The baby won't care but the split had hit my 5 year old hard so was hoping to find something very long term to minimise disruption. The area I am looking in is quite small and I have the added problem of over subscribed schools so although I have my name down for places at 6 schools, not a single place has opened up in months. Its just all so stressful!
pie do you pay all that rent on your own? How do you afford it?

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indecisiveme · 12/02/2013 12:27

bran do you find your current rent a struggle or can you easily afford it? Will you move or stay put when the rent increases?

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cestlavielife · 12/02/2013 16:51

could you rent out the family home and both then rent for now? how much rent would you get? would it cover mortgage (you might have to change to buy to let but that might allow you to go interest only....)

get a two bed with small garden if cheaper than a three bed. baby wont mind and son will be fine.

glitch · 12/02/2013 18:37

Are you eligible for housing benefit? If so are you aware that they will cover mortgage interest payments?

Branleuse · 12/02/2013 18:44

I'll stay put. Its the 1st time hes put the rent up in the 4 years ive been here, and would be no cheaper elsewhere

moonstars · 12/02/2013 18:46

my rent is 220 a week in southeast London for a 3 bed. don't forget though that there is the cap from april....

Branleuse · 12/02/2013 18:48

plus as hes a lovely landlord, id be a fool to move

indecisiveme · 12/02/2013 22:15

Glad you have found a good one bran, you are right to stay put. cestlavie I thought about renting this one out, I think the rent would more or less cover the mortgage but I think owning a property you don't live in affects benefits?
glitch I only work 2 days a week, looking on the benefits calculator, I will be entitled to HB, no I was not aware they cover mortgage interest payments, how does that work?
I am new to all this, I have worked full time since the day I left school and have never claimed a penny before, this is all so complicated! I don't understand how anyone ever cheats the system, I seem to be struggling to get what I am entitled to!

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janey223 · 13/02/2013 00:16

My rent is £1360 for a 2 bed flat in west London, and that's cheap! The basement below me was just rented for £400 more.

My flat mate moved out when I was pregnant and HB pays most of it ATM

DS is 13 months and council houses in Fulham are less common than gold dust! I've been told the only way I'd get one is to have a load more kids! I've applied to councils out of London so I can get back to work & as off benefits as I can!

mama2moo · 13/02/2013 15:41

I have a 3 bedroom house. The rent is £650 a month. I get £350 housing benefit a month and a lot of help with my council tax.

I have 2 children and live in Somerset.

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TuesdayNightDateNight · 13/02/2013 16:19

2 bed flat is £850 plus bills. I work but I get tax credits and housing benefit to top it up.

Worth checking if you will be eligible for HB. Only prob is that you might find any equity out of the house will count against you.

indecisiveme · 13/02/2013 20:53

thanks for the replies guys, looks like I will just have to manage to afford it like the rest of you, I think I have had unrealistic expectations of how much rent should be! Loads of you have it much worse than I will. x

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