Private landlords

Anyone know any private landlords or estate agents that accept housing benefit because I get universal credit and I'm looking to move house but it's so hard to look, I feel like I have no time .. I have 2 kids one who is 7 and the other is 1 and I just found out I'm pregnant so I'm so stressed and anxious but I've been wanting to move so bad since we got robbed last year. Thankfully we wasn't at home when it happened but I just don't feel safe and the council don't help at all because they see I'm not homeless. I'd appreciate any advice you mamas can give me to set me in the right path x

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Try openrent. It’s going to be really hard being accepted by an estate agent. They don’t normally accept anyone on UC or benefits. Your best bet is to find a place on openrent with a private landlord and explain the situation in a positive light for yourself and hope you pass the credit references. Landlords do normally do them but not so in depth. Good luck, I’m in the same position but we’ve decided to leave the UK this year. Hate how difficult this country makes it for single mums 🤍

Yes I recommend openrent as above mentioned, you can tweak the settings for your area and landlord etc please bare in mind some still want a guarantor also! I was homeless 2023 and our council stuck us in travelodge for 6months, it wasn't ideal 16yr and 1yr and I was pregnant and I had to search Am-Pm ! It is hard work but there is light at the end of the tunnel 🩷

Thank you mamas I appreciate the advice..I will look in to open rent I'm very hopeful I will find something. You can only be really positive in life otherwise nothing goes well 😮‍💨

I wasted 1 yr searching, zoopla, operent ect, someone then told me that all councils have a list of private landlords, I called up the council at the time and after 5 days they got me a place with a private landlord, wish I contacted them earlier.

Yeah I heard about that too do you think it's better to call them instead of email?

@Martina how did they look for a place for you? Were you homeless? On being evicted? Surely if you call up and ask for the list they would just give you the list and then you would have to contact the landlord yourself? I’m only asking because I’m in a similar situation as OP and would love to know how you did it this way.

Hi, when I mentioned the "list," I meant the council has a list, I was just given the contact information to the landlord, signed the contract, and took on the place, I was in TA and tired of the bidding system so I requested for urgent assistance moving to private sector. Call up your housing department and tell them you want to go private.

@Martina yeah I'm going to do that fingers crossed 🤞