The renting palaver

It turns out we don't technically have our new place. Although the existing tenants have "picked" us, the landlord still has to agree and we have to go through the estate agent.

So, even though we are renting a room, we still have to pay 120 pounds for the agent to do reference checks etc on us. It makes me wonder how people on benefits over here can afford to get a place to live. Talk about money for jam!

Considering we have less than 3 months history over here, our chances could be pretty slim on the landlord picking us.

Others over here have recommended that we offer to pay a few months in advance, as that is what they did when they were in the same boat. We've put that offer forward, so we will see how we go.

Fingers crossed!

p.s. birthday parcels are slowly starting to trickle through now. I got one today that made me cry my eyes out though.