Moving into private rental?

Good luck Ailidh.

My BIL, who was estranged from my late husband for a reason my husband never knew sadly, did get in contact when he died and we 'friended' each other on Facebook but he never contacts me. He is a vicar, married with a child, and living in church accommodation, retiring in a few years.

I went onto his page to message him with my new address recently and I don't think he knows how to use Facebook or how public it is. He'd actually replied to a friend's comment on his page that 'he can't wait for the inlaws to pop their clogs' so they can buy a house. Sad after a lifetime of commitment he feels so anxious about housing in his retirement he makes a dreadful comment like this.

I agree with those who say hang on to your secure tenancy, you don't want to find yourself having to move because the owner is selling, for example. Maybe try an online swap? There must be other people in your position who perhaps need to move to be nearer family or something, it would keep you with the same landlord. Good luck!

Landlords who allow pets are in the minority. Some are constrained by the terms of their mortgages, others know the cost of allowing animals in their property. In addition a landlord may require to sell the property at any time.
For these reasons I feel you would be wise to hold onto the security you have at the moment.

think carefully, and research deeply.
if you took a private rental and were then evicted, you may find that any social housing would be either temporary hostel style, or a dump in a dire district. and if you decline the offer, the council has discharged its duty, and you are on your own again.

Shandy57- oh what a shame. The CofE Pensions Board absolutely will house all retiring clergy, either in a rental like me or, if they have more income than I did, in shared ownership. It's not compulsory but it is definitely available.

I can't advise but can say that 15 years ago, after my divorce, I decided to rent, sold my cottage and gave my children their inheritance. I have lived in many different types of flats/houses in various parts of the country and have loved it. I like not having the responsibility of replacing boilers or roof tiles. I haven't had any difficult landlords nor been asked to move on. I found I could trust my instinct when it came to choosing a place to live in. (Except for the time I decided sheltered housing would be wise, and I hated it - too restrictive.) I am an adventurer though, so maybe that comes into it. I'm 68, by the way. All the best on your quest, and don't forget to pray about it all!

Please think twice, there are so many Landlords who won’t accept tenants on Benefits, also who won’t accept 1 pet, let alone 2.
DD has had 3 rentals, 2 of them were sold and when her leases came up for renewal she had to leave, the house she is in at the moment, thankfully, accepted her little dog, but the owner lives abroad and at any time could decide he wants to come home.
I dread to think what kind of social housing she would be offered where we live, if indeed she was eligible.
If you had to move and your rental ended and you had to leave your preferred area, where would you have to move to if it was local authority housing ? Probably not by the sea where you wanted to be.
If you didn’t have pets and could afford the deposits and moving costs ( setting up your Broadband isn’t free) I would say go for it, it’s costly to keep moving, but you could go wherever you pleased, but with dogs it isn’t so easy.
Good luck though

There are are number of housing associations on the Fylde, here is just one link, I suggest you write to all of them.

www.google.co.uk/url?
sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjW3M6PxpTyAhXKPsAKHf-3AAIQFjAJegQIIhAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myhomechoicefyldecoast.co.uk%2F%3FUseFullSite%3D1&usg=AOvVaw0tjVYVgSbW19YapouDTc3e

Sorry above link failed..try this one.

www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjW3M6PxpTyAhXKPsAKHf-3AAIQFjAIegQIBRAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnew.fylde.gov.uk%2Fresident%2Fhousing%2Faffordable-housing%2F&usg=AOvVaw233NPW1h9xYSYEZENF7NLT