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It's also where the food is, the
security is, the warm cosy bed is and also where the place you can relax,
study, take time out or do anything else…is! So what's it got to do with Connexions or careers? Well, if you think about it, we all take our homes for granted. You might live with your parents, mates, in student accommodation or on your own. Have you thought about how it might affect your life if you didn't have or currently don't have a home? |
Are you thinking about moving out on your own to get a bit of space? Have you
really thought through what that really involves? It's all very well getting
all excited about planning your first house party when it's too cold because
you didn't put enough cash in your electricity meter….oh yeah….and
you can't call your mates to invite them because you phone got cut off last
week! Living on your own takes a lot of organisation!
On a serious note, if you are currently trying to study, work or train and you're
having housing problems, this can add a load of stress and have a big impact
on keeping up your grades, doing well at work or learning new skills.
Housing can be quite complicated and as with other Connexions subjects, we will go into more detail in future articles. But for now we can look at the different areas you need to be aware of.
So you're thinking of getting your own place. You're earning money and now you're looking for that perfect house or flat. Buying property is becoming more difficult, house prices have been rising and many young people are experiencing the difficulties of getting a mortgage never mind paying them! This option needs a lot of thought, saving and financial advice! If you are working and earning a salary, find out where you can get some good independent advice to help you plan for the future!
However, you might not be ready for such a big commitment and feel like looking at renting. Are you going to rent privately or through a council or housing association? Do you understand about tenancy agreements? Do you know how to apply to the council and other housing agencies? Do you have any experience at dealing with letting agencies or private landlords? Did you realise that some agencies will need employer and character references (one about you at work and one about you as a person), previous landlord references, credit reference checks and up to twice the monthly rent as a deposit. It sounds very depressing but you need to be aware that in some areas of the country, the rent on a one bedroom flat could be £600 per calendar month and the agency will need you to prove that you have a minimum annual salary of £20,000 per year….before they even let you apply for the tenancy. In future articles we will also look at some of the other rental issues you might want to be clear on before you get caught out!
Sharing a property or moving into student accommodation can obviously be cheaper if you are sharing the cost of rent and bills (often called utility bills). But you need to make sure that the property is up to standard and has the required safety checks for things like gas fires and electrical items etc. You also need to be clear about what your commitment is towards the tenancy. If you are the only name on the agreement and everyone moves out……who do you think is going to be liable for the cash…..?
Obviously, there are some times when planning your housing doesn't always work the way you had hoped it would. If you are currently in a situation where you might be or becoming homeless, you need to get as much help as possible. Your Connexions Adviser can put you in touch with the right people to help you. There are several organisations such as Centrepoint, The Foyer Federation and your local council housing department that can try and help you with housing issues depending on your age and circumstances.
Remember that because the Connexions Service is about all issues that affect young people, they may be able to get a range of different agencies to help you with any problems you might be faced with or that may be linked. It may be that your housing problems are related to other issues.
Some young people have housing difficulties because of drug problems, health issues, family arguments, abusive or difficult relationships or money problems within the family. It is likely that when you talk to a worker about your housing problems, they will probably ask you lots of questions about your current situation and reasons for your housing problems. They're not being nosey, they need to find out how urgent your need is and possibly offer you advice and contact details for those other services who might be able to help. So try and explain as clearly and fully as possible and ask your Connexions Adviser for advice if you need a helping hand.
Watch out for future articles about housing issues and don't forget to go to
your Connexions Adviser at your school, college or local centre or contact Connexions
Direct on the web or by phone. Like with many of the Connexions subjects, there
is a lot to think about and you need to do your research before you wipe those
feet on your 'home sweet home' doormat!
http://www.connexions-direct.com/
Good Luck
Jennie Glitherow
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