With our sons now having flown the nest, it seemed a sensible time to downsize. So we put our house on the market.
For various reasons - most of which are covered ad nauseum in other posts on this blog - we decided to rent for a while, until we got a handle on where life is taking us.
It sounds so simple doesn't it?
But it isn't.
Not even a little bit.
Not even slightly.
You see, we have a dog. Most rental properties don't allow dogs. Even those that say 'pet-friendly' in the description often mean something in a cage/bowl. Many of those who will consider dogs will only allow small ones.
Jess is not small.
But let's pretend for a moment that having a dog isn't a problem. Let's pretend that the dog-loving British nation includes scores of dog-welcoming landlords.
We're still being turned down by property agents before we even get to the viewing stage. Why?
Because we're both currently unemployed. Not by choice, and we're doing everything in our power to change that. But our power has its limits.
One refusal I got from a rental agent this morning said that we needed to be earning at least £27kpa in order to be considered as tenants.
The proceeds from the sale of our house will enable us to pay a year's rent in advance. The entire period of the lease.
Not good enough, apparently.
Now just say for a moment, they find a tenant for that house. A couple earning £27kpa. Then, two months in, they lose their source of income. On a salary on £27kpa, they are unlikely to have been able to build up enough of a savings cushion to tide them over to the end of the lease period.
How is that a better prospect than we are?
Don't get me wrong: I bear this fictitious couple and their £27kpa no ill will. I have no desire to see them homeless, especially since - in my head - they have small children.
But I have no particular desire to see me homeless, either. My arthritic joints are unlikely to cope with sleeping rough. Not that I liked sleeping rough even when my joints were young and sprightly.
According to our estate agent, we're on track to be out by the beginning of next month, and we haven't even been allowed to view any properties.
I'm not entirely sure what we're supposed to do about this situation. If you have any suggestions, let's be having them.
For various reasons - most of which are covered ad nauseum in other posts on this blog - we decided to rent for a while, until we got a handle on where life is taking us.
It sounds so simple doesn't it?
But it isn't.
Not even a little bit.
Not even slightly.
 |
| Jess is not small |
Jess is not small.
But let's pretend for a moment that having a dog isn't a problem. Let's pretend that the dog-loving British nation includes scores of dog-welcoming landlords.
We're still being turned down by property agents before we even get to the viewing stage. Why?
Because we're both currently unemployed. Not by choice, and we're doing everything in our power to change that. But our power has its limits.
One refusal I got from a rental agent this morning said that we needed to be earning at least £27kpa in order to be considered as tenants.
The proceeds from the sale of our house will enable us to pay a year's rent in advance. The entire period of the lease.
Not good enough, apparently.
Now just say for a moment, they find a tenant for that house. A couple earning £27kpa. Then, two months in, they lose their source of income. On a salary on £27kpa, they are unlikely to have been able to build up enough of a savings cushion to tide them over to the end of the lease period.
How is that a better prospect than we are?
Don't get me wrong: I bear this fictitious couple and their £27kpa no ill will. I have no desire to see them homeless, especially since - in my head - they have small children.
But I have no particular desire to see me homeless, either. My arthritic joints are unlikely to cope with sleeping rough. Not that I liked sleeping rough even when my joints were young and sprightly.
According to our estate agent, we're on track to be out by the beginning of next month, and we haven't even been allowed to view any properties.
I'm not entirely sure what we're supposed to do about this situation. If you have any suggestions, let's be having them.
