I think I'm having a nervous breakdown trying to find somewhere to live in Glastonbury!...Iv'e just qualified as a teacher over in Cardiff and want to move back to the Mendip area, and do you think I can find anywhere to live on housing benefit...I have only just left my course and had to sign on until I find a teaching job, and every time I have mentioned HOUSING BENEFIT I feel ljudged by people like some kind of social outcast or people assume there is something wrong with you or the fact that you are unemployed=you will trash somebodies property....Is it just me? Despite the fact that I am immaculate, clean cut, into floral things and have great references I just feel hopeless and have had to move back to the Midlands....

Hi carrotcake7, Sorry to hear you are not having much luck finding a property. Books have been written on this very topic i.e. housing benefit claimants and rental property but very briefly the underlying problem is:

* We are in the midst of a huge housing crisis
* Statistics on the likelihood of rent arrears or damage to property are stacked against benefit claimants (Not my personal opinion but the reason why many house insurers now exclude benefit claimants - what landlord is going to be uninsured?)
* With over 10 applicants for every property that comes to the rental market landlords at looking at the stats/hearing the stories/lsitening to their insurers and walking away from benefit claimants

Tip - Beg, steal (only joking!) or borrow 6 months rental advance from friends or family and offer this to the next landlord or agent you ring before they slam the phone down on you.
Tip - Get yourself a guarantor - a UK resident house-owner who is willing to underwrite the Tenancy Agreement - again offer this to the next landlord or agent you ring

There are other things that can help such as getting yourself referenced and offer your reference report to any would-be landlord and seeing how keen and open you are they may be interested in you as a tenant.

Wishing you all the very best