to have no idea WTF to do now? how did they decide this?

[JjandtheBeanlovesUnicorns]

Four weeks ago, me dp and the dcs 3 and 2. Were placed in a bnb as temporary accomadation.

Back story, we rented a house from the in laws, they sold it gave us 4 weeks to leave. We ended up pushing it to 6 and eventually had no choice, the council gave us the bnb while they looked at our claim, ive just had the call saying we are INTENTIONALLY homeless. how the fuck???? someone sold the house i was renting, i paid my rent we looked after the house, perfect facking tenants.

now were fucked, no way we can get a private rent at all, bad credit and on HB. what do i do?

[JjandtheBeanlovesUnicorns]

sorry for the rambled post, im having an awful day, been on the phone to NSPCC as the child living in the next room is being beaten badly, dd has been up a+e after dislocating her shoulder at grandmas and now this.

Were going to see the lady in charge of us when shes finished typing the report, i cant wait to see what ridiculous reason theyve found to call us intentionally homeless.

Ils sold the house we lived in to save there own business, nothing to do with me and dp, we had to leave through no fault or choice of our own.

[Clytaemnestra]

You're intentionally homeless because you left under your own steam, you didn't hang on and force them to go through a legal process to evict you. My friend got caught out by this once.

Stupid rule, but they're pretty definite about it I'm afraid

[ginnybag]

If you left before you were evicted, they will try to claim you made yourself homeless. It's one of the shitty rules they have that no-one in their right mind is aware of until you hit a situation like yours.

Of course you weren't going to put your husband's already struggling parents through the nightmare of evicting you legally. Of course not. That would be mental. But that's exactly what you will be told you should have done.

There are people on here who know far more about this that I do and hopefully one of them will be able to advise you. Just didn't want you having another conversation without that knowledge.

Good luck!

[JjandtheBeanlovesUnicorns]

oh jeez thats ridiculous. great.

dp is frantically phoning private lets, one will take hb, but i doubt theyll take us with awful credit ratings.

im off to look at shelter, thanks ladies

[darleneconnor]

Appeal the decision and get someone from shelter/cab to represent you at it.

[emskaboo]

You could also approach children social services and askif they can assist. In my local authority social services department will help intentionally homeless families under s17 of the children act; good luck.

[JjandtheBeanlovesUnicorns]

my mums close friend is a solicitor, should i contact her, she offered help free of charge. Didnt want to seem like im going all guns blazing iyswim.

dont see how dp thinks we can have a private rent our credit history is dismal.

SS, right will contact them.

[exhausted2011]

can you get someone to vouch for you for a private rental, I can't remember what it is called?
whereabouts in the country are you?

[JjandtheBeanlovesUnicorns]

garuntor (sp) no one we know earns enough, they have to earn 3x the rent.

im in suffolk

[BertieBotts]

You might get lucky on a private let. Some won't do credit ratings. Avoid agencies though as they all will, go through ads in paper/shop windows/supermarket bulletin board etc.

Good luck, I hope things improve soon.

[FabbyChic]

If you moved out of the property before being evicted you are classed as intentionally homeless. As you have to be evicted.

I know it's shit but, there you go.

[4FoxAche]

We where re-housed literally as the bailiffs where walking through the door to change the locks.

You have to play the game unfortunately even if that means packing up all your belongings and sitting in the council offices stating you won't be leaving until they've found somewher for you and your children to live.

It's the last thing you'll want to do but you really do have to kick up merry he'll to get anywhere with these idiots.

Good luck.

[BertieBotts]

Helpful post, Fabby.

[exhausted2011]

this process is quite shocking, and I think people should be more aware of it.

[JjandtheBeanlovesUnicorns]

i was oblivious to this, i assumed intentionally was when your evicted for non payment/damage/anti social behaviour and so on

[Grandhighpoohba]

Don't panic about being unable to find somewhere to rent with bad credit, it is possible. Like someone said above, agencies are more likely to check but private rentals won't as it costs them money. Even then, our agency didn't do a check as such, just references from employer and a copy of our payslips. Having good references is the main thing, and I assume your in-laws will provide this.

[JjandtheBeanlovesUnicorns]

yes we will have a good reference and i have had 3 offers of guaruntor.

Ones been in a well paid job for 22 years, and has a fab credit rating and is willing to back us.

we found a lovely 2 bed today, landlord is relaxed about HB and wants people who want to set roots, yes please, council have offered to pay hb straight to landlord and ive basically been honest about everything, now the battle to find a bloody application fee of £325, jc are useless, waiting for a call from the housing officer if they can help.

AND dp has the chance of a job... we are waiting to hear!

i have everything crossed we get this house, he gets the job and we get our lives back.

[FabbyChic]

Good luck, seems like things may be looking up at last.

YOu could try a crisis loan.

[JjandtheBeanlovesUnicorns]

crisis loan wont help, we have to apply for a budgeting one, which can take up to 2weeks but theyre trying to fast track it, we will see.

[lalabaloo]

Good luck! I hope everything gets sorted out for you. You seem like such a nice person in a really crappy situation