Little Introduction into our family and if there’s a way to connect at all?

Jameshampstead · Mar 16, 2024

Hello everyone,
I hope this message finds you well. I'm reaching out here in the hopes of finding some assistance or guidance. My family and I are currently on the lookout for a new rental opportunity. Recently, we had the chance to visit a farmhouse available for rent in Middleton Tyas, which sparked our interest in rural living, particularly amidst farm land.

I'm James, husband and father in the Hampstead family. Alongside my wife and our four children, we currently reside in a modest three-bedroom townhouse in Middlesbrough. While it has served us well for the past seven years, our growing family now requires a larger living space.

We've encountered a few challenges in our search. Rural properties within our area that meet our requirements are scarce, and rental prices often exceed our current household income. Additionally, dealing with estate agents can be impersonal, and the associated holding and administration fees can be burdensome.

Currently, I'm a stay-at-home parent responsible for household management and childcare and home educating. My wife is on maternity leave from her job as a print press operator. She recently graduated with first-class honours in Media and Communications from Teesside University and is open to potential opportunities, including becoming a personal assistant. On my end, I have spent the past four years working as a semi-professional car detailer and have developed a love for being a home cook. We are open to negotiating and contributing in various capacities, such as property maintenance, cleaning, or assisting with farm-related tasks if required.

To be transparent, our financial resources are limited. Most of the properties we are considering have rental prices at least double our current monthly rent. Despite our heartfelt desire to justify such expenses for the benefit of our family, we find it challenging to see how it would be viable or achievable at present. Therefore, I am reaching out to the farming community in hopes of discovering rental opportunities that align with our needs.

Ideally, we would like to remain within the local area, but we are open to exploring opportunities slightly further afield.

If anyone has any leads or advice to offer, it would be greatly appreciated. We are eager to find a place that we can call home and contribute to a community that shares our values and aspirations.

Thank you for taking the time to read this message. If you require more information or would like to get in touch, please don’t hesitate to contact me or reply.

Also, please accept my apologies in advance if this isn’t the appropriate thread to post this message. If the moderators could either move the post to the correct location or contact me to make the necessary adjustments, I would appreciate it.

Thank you again, everyone. Hoping to hear from someone soon.

Warm regards,
James Hampstead.

Jameshampstead · Mar 16, 2024

As I originally posted this past one in the morning, I thought it best to elaborate; reading it back, it almost comes across as desperate - I hope that isn’t the case. I’m not trying to beg, steal, or borrow anything, and I’m not asking for a lend; hopefully, that has come across. We simply have a humble desire and a dream of bringing our kids up in a place away from the everyday ups and downs of living in a town centre, especially as we home educate our eldest. We could use some extra space and the opportunity to instil in him a strong work ethic... ironic as I don’t work, I understand, but our family is a little topsy-turvy in that regard. There is also a part of me that misses the nostalgia of hot milk by an open fire or watching terrible VCR recordings of Riverdance and Last of the Summer Wine, or the beauty of waking up and walking barefoot on a freezing cold stone floor just to stoke the Aga and get a cup of tea! (I’ve never had to stoke an Aga, that is a dream, but I have walked on plenty of freezing cold stone floors)

Anyway, aside from that, I wish you all a wonderful weekend. I wanted to post a photo of my rowdy bunch but couldn’t find one where everyone was looking at once, so for now, you’ve just got this last bit of attention-seeking before I crawl back into my cave, never to return.

Thanks again all.

Gerbert · Mar 16, 2024

tl;dr

som farmer · Mar 16, 2024

even young local families find it extremely difficult to stay in their local village.

good luck to you, but l think you will find it very difficult to make the change.

and you are to be congratulated for wanting a country life, instead of an urban one.

Jameshampstead · Mar 16, 2024

som farmer said:
even young local families find it extremely difficult to stay in their local village.

good luck to you, but l think you will find it very difficult to make the change.

and you are to be congratulated for wanting a country life, instead of an urban one.

Yes, I can imagine - It’s difficult everywhere at the moment.

I’d say the biggest stumbling block for us presently is financial, as it is for most at the moment. Just looking at houses in urban areas within a 15mile radius of Middlesbrough, the average rental price for a somewhat spacious four bed is between 15/1700pcm. Unfortunately, that just isn’t viable. Yet, we are finding ourselves in a position of needing more space. Hence why I thought it would be at the least plausible to try and reach out, maybe shake some hands and plead our case, even if we come up short.

Thank you again, I am coming humbly and am grateful for the conversation and our situation to be entertained at least.

Jameshampstead · Mar 16, 2024

Gerbert said:
tl;dr

Thomas Jefferson said it best. Thanks for your enlightened response

choochter · Mar 16, 2024

Think you both need to get out and work first, then you may have a chance of achieving those lifestyle changes to which you aspire.

Jameshampstead · Mar 16, 2024

choochter said:
Think you both need to get out and work first, then you may have a chance of achieving those lifestyle changes to which you aspire.

What do you do for work Choochter?

midlandslad · Mar 17, 2024

So you are a stay at home parent and your wife is on maternity leave.

Hardly the best tenant from a landlords perspective. Harsh and blunt but true.

You get what you work for in life.

Jameshampstead · Mar 17, 2024

midlandslad said:
So you are a stay at home parent and your wife is on maternity leave.

Hardly the best tenant from a landlords perspective. Harsh and blunt but true.

You get what you work for in life.

It appears there might be some confusion about my intentions. I want to clarify that I'm/we’re not looking for a handout. Rather, I'm seeking an opportunity for my family to immerse ourselves in farm life and contribute meaningfully to it - hence why, in my initial post, I mentioned my wife and I have a variety of skills to offer, both individually and collectively, and that we're eager to contribute to farm life in any capacity required. Again, we're eager to embrace the rural lifestyle and are open to any rental opportunities within the local area that would allow us to do so. Our goal is to actively participate in rural living, not simply to benefit from it. I hope this clarifies our intentions, as we're genuinely enthusiastic about the prospect of becoming part of a rural community.

workin f nowt · Mar 17, 2024

But like you said finances won't stretch to cover the rent on a rural property of the size you require. Wanting a 4/5 bedroomed house on a farm or rural location round here would be getting close to 2k per month.

curlietailz · Mar 17, 2024

Jameshampstead said:
Hello everyone,
I hope this message finds you well. I'm reaching out here in the hopes of finding some assistance or guidance. My family and I are currently on the lookout for a new rental opportunity. Recently, we had the chance to visit a farmhouse available for rent in Middleton Tyas, which sparked our interest in rural living, particularly amidst farm land.

I'm James, husband and father in the Hampstead family. Alongside my wife and our four children, we currently reside in a modest three-bedroom townhouse in Middlesbrough. While it has served us well for the past seven years, our growing family now requires a larger living space.

We've encountered a few challenges in our search. Rural properties within our area that meet our requirements are scarce, and rental prices often exceed our current household income. Additionally, dealing with estate agents can be impersonal, and the associated holding and administration fees can be burdensome.

Currently, I'm a stay-at-home parent responsible for household management and childcare and home educating. My wife is on maternity leave from her job as a print press operator. She recently graduated with first-class honours in Media and Communications from Teesside University and is open to potential opportunities, including becoming a personal assistant. On my end, I have spent the past four years working as a semi-professional car detailer and have developed a love for being a home cook. We are open to negotiating and contributing in various capacities, such as property maintenance, cleaning, or assisting with farm-related tasks if required.

To be transparent, our financial resources are limited. Most of the properties we are considering have rental prices at least double our current monthly rent. Despite our heartfelt desire to justify such expenses for the benefit of our family, we find it challenging to see how it would be viable or achievable at present. Therefore, I am reaching out to the farming community in hopes of discovering rental opportunities that align with our needs.

Ideally, we would like to remain within the local area, but we are open to exploring opportunities slightly further afield.

If anyone has any leads or advice to offer, it would be greatly appreciated. We are eager to find a place that we can call home and contribute to a community that shares our values and aspirations.

Thank you for taking the time to read this message. If you require more information or would like to get in touch, please don’t hesitate to contact me or reply.

Also, please accept my apologies in advance if this isn’t the appropriate thread to post this message. If the moderators could either move the post to the correct location or contact me to make the necessary adjustments, I would appreciate it.

Thank you again, everyone. Hoping to hear from someone soon.

Warm regards,
James Hampstead.

perhaps it might help if you could list your farm related abilities
Such as
Can you drive a tractor
Do you have telehandler qualifications
Can you calve and milk a cow etc

Mon the whole farmers are looking for qualified and skilled operators these days and a house is rarely given as a perk unless you are a lead operator, or manager.

serf · Mar 17, 2024

All looks a bit rose tinted to me

Darling buds of may ...

BuskhillFarm · Mar 17, 2024

Jameshampstead said:
It appears there might be some confusion about my intentions. I want to clarify that I'm/we’re not looking for a handout. Rather, I'm seeking an opportunity for my family to immerse ourselves in farm life and contribute meaningfully to it - hence why, in my initial post, I mentioned my wife and I have a variety of skills to offer, both individually and collectively, and that we're eager to contribute to farm life in any capacity required. Again, we're eager to embrace the rural lifestyle and are open to any rental opportunities within the local area that would allow us to do so. Our goal is to actively participate in rural living, not simply to benefit from it. I hope this clarifies our intentions, as we're genuinely enthusiastic about the prospect of becoming part of a rural community.

I know of a job in New Deer Aberdeenshire, dairy man, well paid and a tied house if your interested?

Kentishfarmer · Mar 17, 2024

Jameshampstead said:
It appears there might be some confusion about my intentions. I want to clarify that I'm/we’re not looking for a handout. Rather, I'm seeking an opportunity for my family to immerse ourselves in farm life and contribute meaningfully to it - hence why, in my initial post, I mentioned my wife and I have a variety of skills to offer, both individually and collectively, and that we're eager to contribute to farm life in any capacity required. Again, we're eager to embrace the rural lifestyle and are open to any rental opportunities within the local area that would allow us to do so. Our goal is to actively participate in rural living, not simply to benefit from it. I hope this clarifies our intentions, as we're genuinely enthusiastic about the prospect of becoming part of a rural community.

For anybody to give you an opportunity with some kind of work for portion of the rent deal there would have to be a serious level of trust between the landlord and yourself. You've got to put some time into building those relationships and proving yourself. No one is going to give you such a deal off the cuff we've all been burnt before trying to see the best in people.
No good deed goes unpunished...

suffolksmallholder · Mar 17, 2024

All I can offer to you @Jameshampstead is the very best in luck.
You may find a large property perched on the East coast below you in Middlesborough and above Lowestoft and by that I really mean 'perched'. You may be able to rent this for not-a-lot......
You may find work in the picking game but I only see the gangs as I drive about and know nothing of the requirements to join one. There IS work in the towns as a maintenance person and there's also work in the 'oliday caravan park maintenance as well.
What has been posted; £2k PCM for a four bed rural property is in the ball park, and I saw a 3 bed 'out-in-the-woop-woops' of Lincolnshire on an auction site for @£139k but you'd need to be a cash buyer for that.
I'd imagine your Mrs needs to be near a town to use her degree and there's potential for her to earn £30k ++ PA
SS

Jameshampstead · Mar 17, 2024

workin f nowt said:
But like you said finances won't stretch to cover the rent on a rural property of the size you require. Wanting a 4/5 bedroomed house on a farm or rural location round here would be getting close to 2k per month.

Yes, in our area they average about £1500/1700. The farm house we visited prior to this post was a very spacious three bed and was £1000. That was comfortable for us, hence our consideration. My thought process was more “shy bairns don’t get sweets” so thought I’d present us as an option on here. That was all.

Johnnyboxer · Mar 17, 2024

My grandparents did this in the 1960’s when they moved from Yorkshire to South Devon
My grandfather was handyman/gardener for a large country house estate and my grandmother was housekeeper/nanny at the big house (a Mrs Hall type from All Creatures)
Their children were adults by that time and they had time to do it in their 50’s in the 1960’s
They got a tied house and commensurate wage
But that 60 years ago and both them & those times have long gone
Big country houses & families are few & far between nowadays
May I suggest you try The Lady magazine

L P · Mar 17, 2024

Welcome to the forum, you will find negativity but never say never. Media and comms isn't really an asset to farmers, might appeal to the likes of Clarkson and James Dyson (beeswax farming) however if your wife is intelligent enough to get a degree she could re-train. Somehow you need to get a secure budget to afford the rent or at least display a skill set in agriculture. Chicken and egg situation for you, as your wife has good earning potential perhaps hold on where you are and try and secure her employment after maternity leave which can be done from home or at least rurally based. None of us were born pre trained for farming, so no reason you couldn't get yourself involved.

Jameshampstead · Mar 17, 2024

curlietailz said:
perhaps it might help if you could list your farm related abilities
Such as
Can you drive a tractor
Do you have telehandler qualifications
Can you calve and milk a cow etc

Mon the whole farmers are looking for qualified and skilled operators these days and a house is rarely given as a perk unless you are a lead operator, or manager.

I’ve milked a cow a couple of times. We are more skilled in the social media and digital side of business but I understand that’s a reach. I know all of this was a reach but my thinking was, perhaps there is someone out there who is willing to give us a chance, even just meet us and see what they think. It was supposed to be a harmless introduction to who we are and what we would like to achieve at some point.

Little Introduction into our family and if there’s a way to connect at all?

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100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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