jack

*hugs* Thank you everyone who commented on the last post.

OK, I have

Asked the letting agent if they'd consider extending the lease (because worst case they say "no")
Avoided asking them if they personally hate me, or if it's just business, because 90% of people are nice and 10% of people are rude, and there's no actual benefit of knowing which are which if I don't have to deal with them again
Checked the terms of my original contract
Begun release my emotional attachment to random cheap bits of furniture that if I end up moving somewhere short term probably wouldn't be worth storing.

I will:

First priority, look for other flats to let, and make sure the worst case is "have to move to another flat" which is not bad
Second priority, look for houses and mortgages, because I need to do that anyway. It's highly unlikely I can arrange it in two months, but I happen upon the perfect place, it would work out really well.
Third priority, investigate options for possible short term (less than 6-month) lets in case I suddenly do find somewhere to buy, but need somewhere for a couple of months to bridge the gap.

House gantt chart