Stories from those who stayed past the Section 21 date

From the landlords side of things, I've been through one where the council needed the section 21 to come to its end date, and next step of a court application for eviction processed. At that point they stepped in and offered alternative accommodation, without needing to go through the months of waiting for the courts or physical eviction/ bailiffs.
This was about 3/ 4 years ago, and is in a large city that I believe isn't quite so dire on the amount of properties available as other cities.

I believe a friend got to a similar stage, past the section 21 date but pre the courts date, and was bidding on council properties. She moved straight to a 3 bedroomed council house from her previous private rental property.

Another friend is going through it currently, and has just reached the end of her section 21 date. She's been told by the council that there is a severe shortage of 2 bedroomed properties in the area, and they're not eligible for a 3 bedroomed, so not allowed one even though they are more likely to be available. She's been warned she would probably need to stay in the privately rented property until the process had been gone through in the courts, and then would quite probably be in emergency accommodation. She has instead managed to secure another privately rented property, to move in the next couple of weeks.

Why would the landlord not continue the process? They need you out so you move! And why are you wondering at this late stage? You don’t actually think he’ll decide to let you stay do you, because if he’s served you a section 21 notice now it’s because he knows it’s valid and he will continue until you leave.

Councils might be telling people to sit tight but that’s completely irresponsible and they have already been challenged. Their behaviour will be scrutinised one day as it is a national scandal.

Youll have to pay your landlords court fees and you won’t get a reference.

We served a section 21 a long time ago (we rent out DH’s old flat) to an absolutely corrupt tenant. DH went to the property and put it through the letterbox, taking an independent witness (and took photos).
Because they were ‘caught’ in a fraudulent act which is why we chose to evict (and they were starting not to pay rent), they scarpered pretty quickly (and were subsequently jailed for other fraud they’d committed ). DH was threatened though by the husband, only via email at that point.
It was all very stressful.

It’s pretty disgusting for people to not move

landlord has months of stress, costs etc to get them out of their own homes,

no wonder people don’t want to have a buy to let anymore - which will only act to increase rents and restrict available stock

As above although not trashed the place as such. Took 9 months. Had to move on one day with little notice, bailiffs came, it was stressful for them. Ended up in unpleasant emergency accommodation and we're left there for months. They had to pay all court landlords fees.

My friend owned a rental and had to sell it as part of her divorce. She served a notice. The man was told by the council to stay put until there was a court order. Rather than just go through the process and continue to pay his rent, he stopped paying it and trashed the place. It cost thousands to get him out and took around six months. Bailiff removal in the end. It was horrible.