Thinking of Leaving Home

1
Thinking of Leaving Home?

• There comes a time when most people leave home.
• There can be many reasons for leaving.
• Knowing the things to consider will help.
• One way of doing it will not suit everybody.

• Should I go or should I stay?

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What are the Choices?

• Rent a flat or house.
• Move in with friends.
• Find a place to buy.

• A friend in need

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Introduction to Renting

• When you rent a house or flat you pay a person
  (the landlord) money regularly in exchange for
  living in the landlords house or flat.
• When you rent a property a tenancy agreement
  should be signed. This sets out what you are
  paying for.

• Could I have a penthouse at bargain basement
  prices?

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Main Options for Renting

• Private Landlord a person who rents out
  property to make money, this may be their full
  time job or a sideline.
• Local Authority or Social Housing this is where
  properties are rented out by the local council.

• Will a private landlord be in the Army?

6
Renting a Place Privately

• Good bits - the place may have furniture and you
  can move in quickly.
• Not so good bits - could be expensive and a big
  deposit might be needed before you can move in.

• Will you take my mobile phone as a deposit?

7
Social Housing

• Good bits - reasonable rent costs and no large
  deposit required.
• Not so good bits - no furniture and you may need
  to be on a waiting list for a long time.
• Social housing is provided by Local Councils or
  Housing Associations.
• Places are given to people depending on their
  needs this is worked out using a points system.

• Whats the point?

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Housing Associations

• Housing Associations are also known as Registered
  Social Landlords (RSLs). They provide housing
  for those in need.
• Housing Associations tend to concentrate on
  helping people with a particular difficulty this
  could be old people, people with a learning
  difficulty or some other group.

• I thought the RSJ held the roof up not the RSL

9
Housing Associations

• The associations are run to provide housing and
  not to make a profit - any surplus money will go
  back into the association.
• How they work out who is in need will not be the
  same for all associations.
• Housing Associations often take people from
  Council waiting lists.

• RSLs sometimes help people to buy their own
  homes. 

10
Points System

• Councils must give out places to live fairly.
• Each person who is put on the housing register
  has his or her points worked out.
• The more points you have the sooner you will get
  a place.

• Is this a pointless exercise?

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Points System

• Things taken in to account are you homeless,
  living in very poor conditions, have a medical
  need or having to move to avoid hardship.
• Things that might be taken into account are you
  living in the area, employed, reliable with
  paying rent.
• The length of time you have been on the list may
  be considered.

• Will I get a place before I retire?

12
Living With Friends

• Sharing a place with friends can be fun and a
  good idea but if things go wrong it can turn into
  a nightmare.
• Moving in with a partner can be great but it can
  put your relationship under pressure.

• House rule never wash up until all cups have
  been used

13
Living With Friends

• Good bits - shared bills keep the cost down, you
  have friends or partner to talk to and keep you
  company.
• Not so good bits - even people you like a lot can
  get on your nerves when you live with them.
• You will have few rights if you are a lodger in
  someone elses place.

• House rule always say yes if someone is making a
  drink

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Buying a House or Flat

• Buying a house or flat is one of the biggest
  money decisions most people make in their lives.
• There are other things to pay for besides the
  cost of the house or flat solicitor, survey,
  Land Registry fee, mortgage arrangement fee and
  more.

• Is this additional subsidence a good thing?

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Buying a House or Flat

• When you have bought your house or flat you will
  be responsible for its upkeep and repair.
• If you cannot pay your mortgage regularly you may
  lose the house or flat.
• Buying a home is not possible for most young
  people if you think you might be able to buy
  try the are you ready to buy test?

• To buy or not to buy?

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Other Things to Think About

• There will be set up costs for cutlery, plates,
  pans, cleaning equipment.
• You might need to decorate your new place.
• Other costs curtains, bedding, towels.
• You might need some new skills

• What about the TV?

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Skills Required

• Clothes Washing you need to look and smell OK.
• Cooking cooking is a great skill to have.
• Time Management you have to decide when things
  are done.
• Cleaning homes need to be clean.

• Living independently is more than just finding a
  place to sleep

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Washing Clothes

• Wash clothes by hand its cheap, you can wash
  small amounts each day.
• Don't wash anything labelled "Dry Clean Only" in
  a washing machine .
• Try not to overload the washing machine, the
  clothes cannot move freely and do not clean
  properly.
• Launderettes can be expensive and time consuming.

• I had red socks and white socks, now they are all
  pink!

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Cooking

• Its much cheaper and better for you to buy basic
  ingredients and make your own meals.
• Work out how much you're going to spend on food
  each week and try to stick to it.
• Buy fruit and vegetables when theyre in season
  and try to eat at least 5 portions a day.

• Chef rule If Im cooking it Ill make it how I
  like it.

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Time Management

• This is about balancing the things you have to do
  with the things you want to do.
• Reward yourself for completing things you are not
  too keen on (e.g. cleaning).
• Write all the things you have to do on a calendar
  tick them off when complete.
• Make the most of your natural internal clock.

• 8 hours sleep a day Im sleeping all Monday and
  Tuesday

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Cleaning Choices

• Dont clean at all until everything is disgusting
  then clean everywhere all at once .
• Give every person in the house areas to keep
  clean.
• Wait until the cleaning urge finds you (a bit
  like not cleaning but with an excuse).
• Work out a cleaning rota as fairly as you can.

• I found some mushrooms in the cupboard growing!

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How Will I Pay for It?

• One of the common ways to pay for somewhere to
  live is to get a job.
• Many workers are paid an hourly rate for each
  hour of work they do.
• Work out your wages - what rate of pay and what
  hours you would like to pay for your new home.

• Is the cost of living really worth it?

23
How Much Will It Cost?

• Things you will have to pay for - Electricity,
  Gas, Phone, TV License, Rent / mortgage, Water
  rates, Food, Transport, Clothes, Toiletries.
• Things you might have to cut out or down on -
  eating out, expensive hair dos, cinema, smoking
  and drinking.
• Work out your budget here.

• I want to spread my wings not cut down

24
What Now

• Go and look at the options again.
• Go to websites to find further information.
• End the show.

• I was undecided now Im not too sure

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Links to Internet

• Shelter.org
• Direct.gov
• Connexions
• Eatwell.gov
• Reachout.com

• If the Gov doesn't know who does?

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Thanks
Hope you learned something new

• Hope you have enjoyed it