being forced to move but can't afford it!

[flying_visitor]

I've been living in this home for nigh on 5 years and I love the area and my job is here. I can't drive and I need to live here for work and study but I recently found out my house mate is planning on leaving the area at the end of this lease (May 14th) and I'll need to find another place to live as I can't afford to go on living here as I'll have to pay the entire months rent on my own (£780) plus whatever rise the landlord sets for this term (it's consistently went up throughout).

I understand that I can apply for housing benefit as I am only a night student and I make less than the threshold for this sort of thing. I'm also getting middle care DLA, I've looked at the average payment of housing benefit for the area and it will be a real help and should I get it I will easily be able to rent a flat but I can't afford a deposit. I'll obviously need to put the deposit on the new place before I get the deposit back for this place but I only work part time (10 hours a week at min wage) and to be honest I don't actually earn much because it's spent on transport to and from work, i mostly just work for the social side of things. Due to my epilepsy it is hard to find more hours in a job that suits me. I have no savings and I can't raise the money needed for a deposit no matter how much I cut back on food and the like. I only get a low student loan and the bank wont lend me money because I'm not in a position to pay it back. Is there some way of getting money to cover the new deposit which can be paid back when the old deposit is returned?

Thank you.

[haggis_2]

Hi, it might be worth trying you're local credit union. You can find them in the phone book.
Hope that helps

[Goldlady]

Can't you get someone to share the house with you after flatmate moves out?

[GlasweJen]

sorry i posted info on community care grants but realised you have to be on incapacity for those.

[Joa]

hi flying visitor; many local authorities run schemes which either help with a deposit or have lists of landlords which would accept tenants for whom local authority acts as a guarantor. You need to contact your council and ask for a private housing advice service. Additionally, you can call Shelter: Advice services directory ; they would help with finding a local housing advice provider.
Do not forget to tell your local authority that you are in receipt of DLA- it will indicate to them your vulnerable status.

[flying_visitor]

Thank you all for your help.

Goldlady: i don't feel comfortable living with strangers, I have Aspergers and I'm quite socially awkward, also having epilepsy makes me scared that i'll be hurt/stolen from if i have a seizure. This happened before when i lived in halls of residence and i wont have the protection from the university this time round.

Haggis: I'm unsure what the credit union can do for me as I have no money that i could put into savings with them

Joa: thank you, I looked at your link and will call shelter in the morning.

[flying_visitor]

I spoke to Shelter and they said that because I would be classed as vulnerable they will to refer me to a young peoples project run by the local council. The project can help with things like putting down a deposit and finding me an affordable house or possibly placing me in a shared flat with other people with epilepsy as they have a scheme around here that helps with this and there will be things like emergency buttons so that we can get help if something happens during a fit. He couldn't give me much information on the phone so I've to go and see an advisor.

[Joa]

Thanks for the update! This is a very good begining and hopefully you will get some help. Do not be fobbed off, as councils are experiencing a great shortage of accommodation, cuts in funding for non-esential services (like housing advice) and high staff turn-over due to low job satisfaction in this sector. Arm yourself with polite insistence, lay it on thick when it comes to your vulnarability, get them to prepare you written notes of the advice given and don't forget to evoke the name of your MP!
Hopefully you will not need to go to a battle, but forewarned is forearmed, right?

[Alison82]

Thats good news, hopre it all works out for you