advice from uk girls

[KiansMummy]

Hey everyone, im sure ive posted threads like this before and there has been some like this, but anyhow i need some advice please if anyone could help.

Im single, i work 18.5 hpw and currently living with my mum n dad, however now my little boy is getting bigger and moving around, were starting to find it a bit difficult and i really need our own space. So i want my own house.

But ive no idea were to start...
I def want to rent, and id prefer to private rent. Ive seen some online which are like 450pcm, which look decent and say they accept HB with a suitable guarantor.

But would i be able to claim HB as there is no way i could afford the price of the rent, i alsohave my carand insurance to pay for monthly plus childcare.

What other expenses would i have to pay each month and roughly how much are they ... Gas , water bills etc?

Also what do i do first do i contact the council about HB first or find the house first?

And i have nothing to move in with no furniture or anything so how much would alll that cost?

And has anyone got any useful advice?

Thanks xx

 

[jessrabbit]

You may benefit for some kind of housing benefit. Google your local council to see what kind of housing they offer in your area, it's often a little cheaper and more
Secure than private renting. Some councils will give u a grant towards a deposit for renting if u qualify. You may need your parents to give u notice to quit to get something quickly as well. Take a look at the shelter charity website for advice on homelessness. Also look at direct.gov and citizens advice for help on benefits. Hope this helps x

 

[Laura2919]

You may be entitled so the best thing to do it contact your council and see what their limit up to is and then work from that. They would more than likely help you but you wouldnt really know until you had moved in.

I rent from council so my rent is small for where I live, I am just outside London and a normal 2 bedroom flat here is normally around £800 but I pay £400..

 

[babybambi2011]

is there any way u can reduce your hours to under 16 hours a week. you will get a lot more help from housing benefit, council benefit and the jobcentre ect if you work less than 16hrs... just a thought

 

[sarahtia]

hiya if you want to private rent the council will only help you pay 4 a 2bedroom house as that is al u require. you have 2find out if you can get help with the deposit for the house it depends where u live in the uk if not u have to find that + first months rent up front.

you need to contact ur local housing benifits department and ask 4 a meeting so you know were u stand with everything. as u work i take it u get working tax credits so you will be fine.

you will have gas £10 week, electric £10 week, council tax which u should get help with mine is £100 month, water £50 month, food/house things £80 week

dont 4get u will need to buy things for the house when u get it. i started buying things b4 i got a house so it didnt cost as much but it will stil cost abit. do u have a fee cycle maybe u can get things out of that 4 nw until u can get beta

 

[KiansMummy]

Thanks im not so bad at theminute ive saved up and got enough for the bond and first months rent, and parents have said they will helpwith SOME furniture and couple of bits, im just struggling to even find a house lol x

 

[Laura2919]

Hope something comes up soon for you.

 

[sophxx]

what area are you looking for as theres lotys of letting agents that dont advertise on rightmove but have ok properties in burnley blackburn ect.

theres also charitys who sell furniture really cheap for people on low incomes

 

[Laura2919]

what area are you looking for as theres lotys of letting agents that dont advertise on rightmove but have ok properties in burnley blackburn ect.

theres also charitys who sell furniture really cheap for people on low incomes

Yeah your council can give you all the details.. Ours is called the Grapevine.

 

[Paton]

Agree with the rest of ladies.. except my water bill is about £126 every 6 months so not as much as Sarahtia said.

Not sure exactly what you're entitle to but definitely enough to live on.. I was on maternity leave when I got working tax credits so that bumped me up quite well and i still got a little help with rent too but had to pay council tax.

I think private renting is nicer as you *technically* get more of a choice of where you live. Although there really aren't many properties around in my area at the mo and the good ones are snapped up within hours.. it's a bit of a mission!
Happy house hunting xxxx

 

[Laura2919]

My water is part of my rent so I only pay £20 a month

 

[londonbump2]

If you've got the first months rent and deposit there's no reason you need to tell the landlord you're claiming LHA (local housing allowance, housing benefit isn't awarded anymore), but you can be honest with them and say you work part time and will be claiming for help with the rent.

Once you find somewhere apply through the council, you can apply before you move in and they pay in arrears (but you have the in advance so should be ok). They'll calculate it with whatever income you have vs what the government say you need and then what the rent is up to the maximum for a 2 bed in your area.

If you look on your local council website you should find their 2bed rates for the last/current month, try a benefit calculator and put in that amount as what you pay in rent and the council max for area and it should be able to tell you how much of your rent at that rate your entitled to. Did that make sense??

 

[MissRhead]

I agree with what someone eles said about maybe reducing your hours to 16 per week, you will get alot more help. I private rent a 2 bed newish build house for £499pcm i get £406 pcm so just have to top it up. I only pay £40 per month gas and electricity and £30pm water. x