Homeless with son. Should I live in a tent? Or on a beach somewhere?

[SwimmingClose]

I live in the south of England.

I have one child.

I have a serious chronic illness.

I cannot afford to top-up my housing benefit any more. After one year, my savings are now gone.

I worked for 25 years. My parents worked all their lives.

I will be homeless.

Its seemingly impossible to find a Landlord, Social Housing, etc without a Guarantor. I cannot find anyone unless I have a rent 'Guarantor' (which I don't have).

Any thoughts? Just don't know what to do.

Feel weird about it all too. Not sure what to do. Should I live in a tent, etc? Feel very marginalised and strange situation, horrible really.

[Chippednailvarnish]

Ring Shelter, they'll advise you.

[TheScience]

Stay where you are. If/when you are evicted your council will have a duty to house you - it's likely to be temporary accommodation like a hostel or B&B first but eventually you should qualify for social housing.

Whatever you do don't move out - you'll be considered to have made yourself intentionally homeless.

[SwimmingClose]

Will do, Chipped. I tried them once before (before I was so desperate that is), it didn't come to much as I remember. But I will try again. Thanks.

.

[Funnyfoot]

Stay where you are. As the above post says.
Can you contact the father and ask for financial support to put a roof over his child's head?

[Maiziemonkey]

dont know advice but know there are organisations that fight for and advise peolple in danger of homelessness- shelter sounds a good start, good luck with your plight. It is a horrible situation for you, hope you find a solution soon

[PandaFeet]

Check out charities in your area. I once had a bond (a guaranteed deposit) put up by a homelessness charity so that we could secure a private tenancy with no deposit.

Maybe there is something similar in your area.

[TheXxed]

Everything Science said. Take a deep breath things will get better.

[SwimmingClose]

But Science I don't want to be evicted, I really don't. That doesn't seem fair either on my Landlord or My original Guarantor (in good faith) who will presumably be taken to the cleaners if I default. Not my intention in the agreement. But if I break it, which I will have no intention but to do otherwise, well where does that leave me? No agents will take me. No Landlord will take me. No local authority will take me.

[SwimmingClose]

p.s. I will not be "breaking the lease" so I will not default. I will simply not be able to default or create a new lease (as no-one will accept me elsewhere).

[TheXxed]

Your local authority will have to take you on, if you are not evicted they will think you made your self homeless and will have no responsibility to rehouse you.

You have to think of your son and its a mess but what could be worse than sleeping on the street with your child in winter.

[IneedAwittierNickname]

My local council consider you to have made your self homeless if.you are evicted for rent arrears too :( At least they used to.
I agree with contacting shelter.
Also if you are on fb try the group letting discrimination go
It's helping people claiming benefits find private lets.

[SpagBolgs]

Get a boat house!

[SwimmingClose]

To clarify, X, etc. I have not made myself homeless! I will not have been evicted!!!!!! I have just not been able to afford to renew lease as the rent is very high and my savings will have gone on it.

[NigellasDealer]

stay put and pay what rent you can until you are evicted, then the council will have an obligation to house you. But be careful as by defaulting on the rent , you might be deemed as being 'intentionally homeless'.
you really need to talk to CAB and shelter asap.
Have you investigated Discretionary housing payments that might top up your HB?

[TheXxed]

Unless your landlord evicts you, you have made your self homeless. You chose to leave.

[SwimmingClose]

I have not got rent arrears, grrrrr.... the Landlords have been paid in full I can assure everyone here! I have paid my rent! Just not able to re-new lease as have not got top-up or guarantor now.

[NigellasDealer]

sorry x post i see you do not want to be evicted.
.....
cab and shelter!

[NigellasDealer]

well if you have been a good tenant perhaps they will not ask for a new guarantor?

[TheXxed]

Swimming I understand what you are saying, you don't seem to understand what I am saying. Believe me I know these insane rules like the back of my hand.

[IneedAwittierNickname]

Sorry, didn't realise your rent was up for renewal.

Does your local council have a list of lls who will let to people on benefits?
We used to have one, it was called dgs (deposit guarantee scheme) so you didn't need a deposit upfront either. I'm not sure if that sort of thing still exists.

[TheXxed]

Even if your lease is up a tenant is not obliged to leave until they are evicted.

[NigellasDealer]

yes there is an organisation in the town here that puts up a 'paper bond' for tenants for example.

[AgaPanthers]

I wouldn't feel too much sympathy for the landlord.

When you choose to rent out a property then in return for that money you accept a risk that people default/don't pay the rent. That's the landlord's problem, and one he took on when he chose to get into this business.

Act in your own interests. Not somebody else's.

However, if you speak to your local council they have a bond scheme where they will guarantee houses. Basically they sign a bond with a private landlord, which says that they will pay if you default. Speak to the housing officer at the council, they will explain how it works.

[SwimmingClose]

I cannot afford a top-up of £300 rent a month, so I cannot re-new the lease Nigella.

X, the Landlord is NOT evicting me. The Landlord's lease is just coming to an end. I am not re-newing my lease because of the massive "top up" but I am not "choosing" to be homeless.

[IneedAwittierNickname]

Glad to hear the bond scheme/dgs still exists in some areas :)