Moving out feels like a pipe dream

sadfairy

Hi! I struggle with quite severe mental illness that's left me unable to work for literally my whole life (had to drop out of school due to this too) and I'm currently on UC with limited capability for work and PIP. I live at home with my mum but I truly believe living here with her is having a severely negative effect on my mental health. I'd love to move out but it seems impossible. I have pets (a garden is essential because of this), I'm on benefits and I'm low income, and I've heard how hard it is to find a landlord that will take people with those circumstances and I've also heard the wait for social housing is incredibly long. I feel trapped totally by my circumstances, I really don't know what to do. I'm trying my best to focus on improving my mental health as much as I can but it's difficult to stay motivated when I can't see a way out.

poppy123456

It’s certainly isnt easy to find a landlord that will accept a tenant claiming benefits but they are out there. Do a search of the area you want to live. Do be aware though that if you do manage to find one they may ask for a guarantor. 

Tori_Scope

Welcome to the community @sadfairy I'm sorry to hear that things are quite challenging at the moment, and that it's having an impact on your mental health.

As the others have said, it can be difficult to find a private landlord who accepts tenants claiming benefits, but it's not impossible. Shelter have some information on their website about how to find landlord who accept benefits, which you might find helpful. Would living in a house share be an option for you?

 I live at home with my mum but I truly believe living here with her is having a severely negative effect on my mental health.

Would you feel comfortable telling us a little more about why this is?

Are you receiving any support to help you manage your mental health at the moment?

Teigr

@Biblioklept Have the rules changed with regard to guarantors?
When our daughter was looking to move out(she was working but her boyfriend wasn't)one agent told her they'd need two guarantors and both of them would have to be property owners.

Teigr

Good morning @Biblioklept.

Yes,it might vary from agent to agent.I don't remember income being mentioned;although my partner was finishing a course of radiotherapy at the time so our income was limited to sick pay(or whatever they call it now).