If you wish to make a difference to help others, it helps to have a stable grounded life yourself. And part of that is a safe affordable home for you and those you love. But the powers that be make moving home one of the most stressful things you can do.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. For a start, if you downsize and simplify your life so it reflects who you want to be, moving is so much easier. Most people use conventional estate agents (as there are no fees).
If you sell online, Strike has better reviews. It offers free services, and makes money from mortgages, hosted viewings, surveys and moving services. Read these tips for increasing your house value.
This is a case where often you are best using a local indie estate agent, often because you don’t pay anything unless you sell. It’s a bit of a faff but it’s better than paying thousands online that you don’t get back, if your home does not sell. In Cornwall, there was a non-profit estate agent that gave all profits to the community – yet nobody used it so it folded?
A Safer Stress-Free Move for Pets
For moving in (or people replacing you moving out), create a garden safe for pets (includes indoor plants to avoid). Avoid facing indoor foliage to gardens, to help stop birds flying into windows. Read posts on pet welfare).
Moving is stressful for pets, so have friends/relatives look after them, then give them a nice walk on arrival and keep familiar smells nearby (pet beds, clothes – not socks as they are choking hazards). Read tips on making pet moves stress-free.
If you are reaching your new home by car, Driving with Dogs lists walks near motorway exits, in case you get stuck in a traffic jam.
Read rules and tips for train travel with pets. Animals must be kept on leads or in carriers, and bring plenty of water and treats. Pets are not allowed on seats or escalators (they must be carried) and never allow animals near train.
Lets with Pets (run by Dogs Trust) has info for tenants and a free Good Practice Handbook for landlords (Endsleigh Insurance provides landlords with pet policy cover). Their advice includes:
- Begin searching several weeks beforehand, for plenty of time to find the best place. Know that if you work all day, your bored dog is likely best at work with you, or hiring a walker.
- Write a pet CV including references from friends, vets and previous landlords. It helps to introduce them to prospective landlords too.
- PetsLets (London) educates landlords and estate agents (half of all households have pets) to inspire them to allow pets. DogLaw has useful info.
How Extended Family Homes Work for Some
Extended family homes are common in Indian cultures, and sometimes they can provide a wonderful solution for families struggling on a budget. It’s not for everyone, but can work for close families that get on well.
It basically involves various relatives selling up and moving into one larger home. This can in some circumstances pay off mortgages (or drastically reduce payments). It may take a bit of downsizing (selling/donating/recycling clutter), but within a few months, the results could lead to better quality of life.
Let’s look at an example of how extended family homes could work.
You and your partner live in a tiny London flat, working 80 hours to pay the mortgage, and never see either widowed parent hundreds of miles away, nor the depressed granny with a dog who lives in her own house in a built-up area.
If you all get on, you could all sell up and buy a nice big 5-bedroom house with garden in a nice area, with no mortgage. Then you all regain time and money, live in a nicer area and granny gets a free dog-walker (and you have free sitters, if you decide to have children).
How to Rent Homes without Letting Agents
More renters are choosing to bypass agents altogether. The trend is shifting towards direct interactions between landlords and tenants. This movement is partly driven by the abundance of online resources making DIY renting more accessible. People are becoming more comfortable with negotiating their own deals and managing their own contracts.
Websites and apps like OpenRent offers services like tenant referencing/credit checks, for low-cost set fees. Sometimes, the best opportunities come from unexpected quarters. Let friends and family know you’re on the hunt.
Personal recommendations can lead to properties that haven’t even been officially listed yet. This method relies on a bit of luck but shouldn’t be underestimated.
Navigating the Application Process
- Prepare references from previous landlords or employers. Have proof of income ready. These documents help demonstrate reliability and boost your chances of approval.
- Clear communication is essential for setting expectations and building rapport. Don’t hesitate to ask questions regarding the property or rental terms.
- Tenants have rights under UK law that safeguard their living conditions. These include the right to a safe dwelling, a fair rent, and protection against unlawful eviction. Familiarise yourself with these to avoid potential pitfalls.
- A written tenancy agreement should outline rent, deposit details, and the responsibilities of both parties. You can find templates online that cover the legal essentials, but consider consulting a solicitor if you’re unsure.
High Rents = Homelessness Issues
In many countries with high rentals like Italy and Germany, the industry is more regulated. But elsewhere, renting is difficult as higher mortgages for landlords mean higher rents, yet available properties reducing.
Finland’s nonprofit landlord Y-Säätiö not only owns 20,000 homes to work with councils, but is the first country to have no homelessness (along with Denmark, the only country’s with falling rates). Its M2-Kodit homes are fully-furnished, affordable and safe with access to green space, public transport and laundry.
The government’s Rent-a-Room scheme lets householders earn up to £7500 tax-free income (halved if you share income) from letting furnished rooms (you can also use this to rent B & B and hotel rooms, out of season to earn income during winter, and avoid tax).
Zero Deposit replaces the five-weeks-in-advance security property. FCA-regulated and accepted by most estate agents, you pay one week’s rent and a simple fee, with a Dispute service.
