Can anyone help?

[Leonard Barden]

I was going to post this on the accommodation topic page, but that is now locked.

I have been lodging in a house in Sydenham, South London, for the past ten years. A few weeks ago my landlord told me that he was selling up due to mortgage problems and that I would have to leave by the end of this month, ie by 31 December.

I have been looking for somewhere else, but so far without success. I have been paying £100 a week, but most advertised rooms are much more expensive than that. Even more of a disadvantage is that nobody wants a tenant in his eighties. I have applied to Lewisham council, but it is unclear whether that will produce a result and even if it does the bureaucratic wheels grind slowly. I even tried the local chess club to see if anyone would put me up, but no luck.

Hence this approach to Forum members. My needs are rather modest, basically a table and chair to work, a place fairly close to public transport and shops as I don't have a car, within the area covered by a Freedom Pass and ideally within reasonable travel distance of London Bridge where I have to go at weekends. I can pay up to around £100 a week, and as an extra would be available for chess training games/analysis/coaching if desired, though this is entirely optional.

If anyone has a suggestion, please send me a pm or alternatively email me at [email protected]. Even an offer of a camp bed on somebody's floor for a few weeks might make the difference, although naturally I'd prefer the option of a longer period.

[IM Jack Rudd]

Is Dagenham too far out? I've found someone there who may be able to help.

[Stephen Saunders]

Mr Barden, your council should certainly be able to accomodate you. If you have a local CAB approach them, they are (in my experience) tremendously helpful in such matters.

[John McKenna]

I agree with Stephen Saunders, above, so I've sent Mr Barden details of a Citizens Advice Bureau not far from where he resides.

[Mike Truran]

Maybe this one should go forward on a PM basis now rather than via public posts?

[Carl Hibbard]

Maybe this one should go forward on a PM basis now rather than via public posts?

I agree.