Can you help?

[Oddsocks06]

Asking on behalf of a friend who's life has gone wrong through no fault of their own. Self employed. Bad back flared up. Had to have time of work. Money ran out. Went on universal credits. Awaiting scan. Landlord was understandably frustrated the rent was late and wanted him out.

He applied to the council. They said he needed a section 21. So they gave him one. He went back to the council. The council have said its incorrect and they need to give copies of gas and electric certificates and a how to rent guide.

He's sent this information through to the landlord. They have ignored him. An email was sent to chase them up. They ignored both attempts at contact.

He's now in a pickle. I'm paying for him to eat and paying his phone bill. He's struggling to live in so much pain and just about paying his other bills. He usually earns great money and he's worked hard all his life.

To add to this 3 months ago his car was written off through a delivery driver. The driver denied it was his fault and the insurance company won't pay out. He's send emails as he's been advised to complain before he can go to the ombudsman. It's been 6 weeks and no reply.

He is struggling so bad and such a good bloke who's just 3 massive problems that can't be solved.

We don't know what we should do now. Can anyone help

Citizens Advice?

He needs to call and speak to citizens advice really, they can advise on most of the above and go through eligibility for benefits he may be entitled to particularly those geared towards him being too unwell to work, which it doesn't sound like he is attempting to claim for whatever reason. He needs to look into eligibility for a food bank.

Does he have any close family that can support? Can any aspect of his job be done while he is at rest? Can he seek alternative WFH employment that he can do at rest while the back situation is looked into?

What is the suspected prognosis he has? Is this likely to be temporary?

Get on to the GP urgently and ask for community pain management referrals, referrals to occupational therapy and request a review of his pain medication from the GP, he needs to impress upon them that it has resulted in him being unable to work with no income and likely to be made homeless. Ask for whatever scans they are to be processed at urgent and chased up.

Poor guy, it must be very stressful. I would urge him to speak with the GP about his mental health too if this is affecting it.

If the Section 21 is invalid; the council won't be progressing his homeless application.

But it isn't the end of the process - for almost all councils, you need a S21, and then you have to stay past the date on the S21, and wait until the landlord takes you to court to be evicted. You are not classed as homeless until the bailiffs arrive to evict you - it's usually advised that you remove your things before then, so the bailiffs arrive and you can just leave. At that point, you're classed as homeless, and if the council has an obligation to home you, it starts then. Leaving before that point risks you being classed as intentionally homeless, as you are legally allowed to stay until then. With the Covid backlogs; it'll likely be at least six months until the landlord gets a court date, and that's from the S21 being correctly issued - that timeline hasn't started yet if his current S21 isn't legally valid.

There is, of course, the chance that as an adult male with no vulnerabilities, he may not be entitled to much help from the council - waiting lists for council homes are LONG in most places; and he may get a very low banding. The council should be able to advise him on this, and how long he's likely to be waiting to be rehomed... but it's possible that he will only be offered a room in a b'n'b, or a shelter. I was graded as a Band 2 at 17; and all they could offer me was a room in the Salvation Army, so prepare him for that.

For the car, has he got any evidence of the delivery driver being liable? Is there any CCTV that covers the incident?

On the plus side, doesn't an invalid section 21 mean the landlord can't kick him out for a lot longer? So he has time to wait for a valid section 21 and then wait past the date on that.

Thank you we've called citizens advice. He's made the GPS as aware as things as possible. Been through all the pain management stuff and he's awaiting an appointment next week with a physio and hoping he can have a scan..he went to a&e today and they said it was too busy to scan him but offered him strong opiates which he's toonafraid to be on at home alone.

Its like he's being punished for working hard all his life. His mental health is definitely affected but he's used to that. He's on medication.

He basically needs a scan. He may have something else wrong now in his back. His operation never relieved the pain but he managed to keep going. Now he's in extreme pain. Once he knows what's happening and what can be done or can't he will know more. He currently wants to go back into full time work. He's in his 40s and it's really beating him down now being so young still. He's not ready to stop working but also he doesn't want to be living of the tiny amount of money he's entitled too..it covers nothing but a few bills.

I don't mind supporting him with food for now as I can just about do it. I don't want him worrying about that on top of the rest.

It's honestly such a nightmare. I'm looking into charities too. I just hope he can get some support now.