Ideas to Help Find Affordable Housing
England has a real problem with finding affordable housing, but there are quite a few options out there, with some vision combined with action from councils and government. And there’s no need to destroy our countryside, in order to build it.
Rental accommodation is so expensive, that many people simply can’t afford it, and it’s one of the main causes of homelessness.
In Italy and Germany, the rental industry is much better regulated. In Finland (the country on course to become the first with zero homelessness, the national non-profit landlord Y-Säätiö owns 20,000 M2-Kodit homes which are fully-furnished, affordable and safe with access to green space, public transport and laundry. Why not the same here?
If you are buying or selling property, Strike is a well-reviewed online estate agent that is free (it makes money from mortgages, hosted viewings, surveys and moving services. Read these tips for increasing your house value).
Or use a local independent estate agent, who won’t charge you anything, unless you sell. It’s better than paying online agents thousands, that you don’t get back, if your home does not sell within a certain time.
In Cornwall, there was a non-profit estate agent that gave all profits to the community – yet nobody used it so it folded?
Finding Pet-Friendly Rental Accommodation
Many people struggle to find rental accommodation in England, because so many landlords and landladies won’t accept pets.
- Lets with Pets (run by Dogs Trust) offers a free Good Practice Handbook for landlords (Endsleigh Insurance provides landlords with pet cover).
- Start searching for suitable property weeks beforehand, ensuring it’s somewhere near to work, if you can’t afford to hire a dog walker.
- Write a pet CV including references from friends, vets and previous landlords. Also introduce to prospective landlords.
- PetsLets (London) educates landlords and estate agents, to inspire them to allow pets. DogLaw has useful info.
- On arrival, take dogs for a nice walk, and keep familiar smells nearby (pet beds, clothes – not socks as these are choking hazards).
- If moving by car, Driving with Dogs lists walks near motorway exits, in case you get stuck in a traffic jam.
- Read up on train travel with pets (animals must be kept on leads or in carriers, and bring water and treats – pets are not allowed on escalators (they must be carried) and never allow animals near trains.
- If moving in or out, ensure pets are safe for pets (includes indoor plants to avoid). Also avoid facing indoor foliage to gardens, to help stop bird strike.
Innovative Alternatives to Letting Agents
Affordable rent should not be more than a third of your monthly pay. Look for added bonuses like living near public transport, in-house laundry or free parking.
Hello Neighbour already has over 2000 landlords on board, where tenants can book viewings, make offers, pay rent and log repair/maintenance requests, with lower fees due to being online (a typical landlord can save thousands, as there are no tenancy renewable fees and discounts on gas/boiler safety certificates).
Homes for Good (Scotland) is a good example of a non-profit letting agent which charges fair rent and has in-house plumbers and others to fix problems swiftly and affordably.
This agency put a single mother with depression on a repayment plan for arrears, got her housing benefit safeguarded and helped decorate her home (she is now at college). Their flats in Glasgow are way more affordable than most on RightMove.
My Landlord Cares (Yorkshire) was founded by a family of landlords fed up of hearing about ‘nightmare landlords’. It promises fair pricing, honesty and help for repairs. Prices are kept low as it does not subscribe to RightMove (instead it works with councils to find affordable homes for local people).
The Zero Deposit Scheme replaces the cash deposit, just one week’s rent (plus a £60 set-up fee on moving in) then £17.50 a year. Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, for peace of mind for your landlord.
Goodlord is a site for ethical landlords/landladies to simplify renting and referencing. Use the software to:
- Offer letters and contracts
- Payments and signings
- Corporate lets
- Tenant referencing
- Rent protection & legal expenses
- Liability & insurance
How Extended Family Homes Work for Some
Extended family homes are common in Indian cultures, and an ideal solution for families on a budget, that get on. Various relatives sell up and move into one larger home, which can in some circumstances pay off mortgages, or drastically reduce payments.
It may take everyone to sell/donate/recycle unwanted belongings, but in a few months, you could have a much better quality of life. Here’s an example:
A couple in a tiny London flat who work 80 hours to pay the mortgage, never see either widowed parent, who live hundreds of miles away, nor the depressed granny with a dog who lives in her own house, in a noisy urban area.
If you all got on, you could all sell up and buy a 5-bedroom house with garden, in a nice area, with no mortgage. And free granny and dog sitting (and free childcare, if the couple have children).
Where to Find Housing Association Properties
It’s interesting that in Finland, the main ‘national landlord’ is non-profit. And this is the first country to achieve almost zero homelessness. There is obviously a link.
Housing associations are non-profit landlords, to offer decent affordable homes to people who need them most, bridging the gap between council housing and private rental. They work with councils but stay separate.
This Finnish non-profit landlord as an example offers nice flats with spacious interiors and outdoor green space, near good public transport links. Why are we not doing the same here?
There are several types of housing associations in England. The main one is LSVT (large scale voluntary transfer) where councils hand their stock over to an independent organisation, to then invest in repairs and upgrades.
Others specialise in helping groups like older people or those with disabilities. Often you have to be over 60 to rent. Housing associations can choose between offering properties at social rent (50% below market rate) or affordable (80% below market rent).
Struggling to buy outright? Shared ownership lets you buy a part of your home and pay rent on the rest. Over time, you can buy more shares if your finances improve. Share to Buy is the main website to find out more, and view available homes.
Some are not fans, others say you’re basically still renting, but taking on the added cost of being responsible for repairs.
The benefits are lower rents and long-term security, and support for vulnerable and low-income groups. You also can get repairs and safety checks done, but due to funding cuts, there may be backlogs for repairs, and years to find the right property.
Homes are usually on a 12-month tenancy, then a fixed-term tenancy of at least 5 years, then later on you can opt to buy your home.
Homefinder UK is the main place to look for affordable housing association properties nationwide. You can request homes outside your area, but must be registered with a council or housing association, in order to apply.
You can also apply for council housing and sheltered housing (these have wardens and alarms, for older, disabled or vulnerable people).
Peabody is England’s oldest non-profit housing association. If you find a property (London or home counties), you can also request a repair online. This site has a useful page for anyone on safety considerations, so you know what to check, to ensure your home is safe. This covers:
- Fire safety and cladding
- Damp, mould and condensation
- Gas and electric safety
- Asbestos
- Water safety
Places for People lets you search for affordable homes in England and Scotland. We entered ‘Sutton’ (in Essex) within 50 miles and it brought up one property in Bedfordshire. A small flat near shops with a communal launderette, for £575 per month.
