So today is the day that I am officially "evicted" from my property, due to rent arrears spiralling out of control over a period of 4 years. I'm not exactly proud but don't get too teary eyed for the landlady. Over 4 years I've paid £20,000 of a possible £24,000, so I'm sure we will all survive the losses.
As mentioned in the video below, I have learned a lot from this experience and I promised to discuss a recent revelation. As you may all know by now, I have had meetings with the housing department of my local-council. My intentions has been to document to procedure and hope that I get lucky with the offer of a decent place to live. In the current housing climate I would say I have more chance of finding an honest MP, but still it has to be worth a punt, as you Yanks like to say.
Now one thing on offer from the council is the chance to apply for help with your "Bond". For those who don't know what a bond is, it is a an amount equal to one months rent that must be paid before you move in. As well as your bond it is customary to pay 2 months rent upfront on your first payment. All told, this amounts to around £2000, after the dreaded "Admin fees" are added. So you see, the councils offer to "vouch for you", as no money actually changes hands, to the tune of £450 is a great help.
All sounds good, yeah? Well, not exactly.... First off, these council bonds are a red flag to any Letting agent, so expect so funny responses when you finally mention it. Second issue, and has to be said it is the most important, is that when you accept the council's "bond scheme" you can only look to rent a property, with a monthly rent that DOES NOT exceed the bond itself.
Now the problem with this is that £450 per month will get me nothing more than a public toilet in Dundee, if I am lucky. I have asked if I am allowed to top-up this bond but apparently that is against the rules. I understand the meaning of this restriction but the bar is set way too low for someone like me. This could have been a nice bit of help but now appears to be just another shackle. I need somewhere better than a Highland Bog, so this scheme wont be for me.
I'm just thankful for having a good Mum who is there for me when the time comes. And it appears that time has come as it's the 20th and it looks like my time here is done....
