Terrified I'm going to be homeless

[lollipoprainbow]

I'm so upset and low. I'm a single mum with a 9yr old dd with autism. We have been living with our cat in a lovely flat for nine years. The rent is high but I can't get a mortgage even though it would be lower than my rent. The landlord has decided to sell. Two bed properties in my area are extremely hard to come by, as soon as I was told the landlord was selling I started looking, there is absolutely nothing in my price range. I live in a block of four rented flats but the other three are owned by a separate landlord. I've discovered that an identical flat next to me with be available from April. I got onto the agents to voice my interest and ask if I could be given first refusal for it and was told that as the rent is likely to increase and as j don't earn enough I will need a guarantor which I don't have. I feel so unsettled and unhappy. I just don't what to do. My dd loves her home and I haven't got the heart to break it to her that we will have to move soon. Also the estate agents want to come in and take photos for marketing so she'll wonder what's going on.

@BitcherOfBlakiven so sorry you are in this position too, it's bloody awful. Something needs to be done to help people struggling like this.

@lollipoprainbow the estate agents might be saying they thought the property was empty as a strategy to undermine you and try and push you out.

The courts have a huge backlog so if you stay until you get a court eviction notice you'll be looking at least 6 months from the sect21 notice to move - probably much longer.

But if you're priced out of that area it might be better to take your time and move to a cheaper one.

Alternatively, as a single parent with a disabled child you should be very high up the housing list. Waiting for an eviction order will hopefully give your council time to line up accommodation. And 2-beds is definitely required no matter what people brought up under a stone say

My middle child is autistic and also under CAMHS so I don’t even want to think about what will happen if we are stuck in one room accommodation for any length of time

Have you been issued a section 8 or section 21?

@KnobJockey no not yet it's very early days I got an email from the landlord around October time to say they were selling up but not to worry as it will take ages. Since then nothing apart from the call yesterday from the estate agents asking If I still lived there and someone would be in touch to come and take photos etc.

@BitcherOfBlakiven me too, she needs her own chill out space as do I !! I just feel so unsettled about it all.

have you checked whether they are selling with tenants in-situ? so to another landlord? As that means you wouldn't need to move? and to echo others they need to raise a s21 notice - I would imagine the landlord would not want to do this until he is sure that the property has a buyer, echo others about also speaking to shelter

@Buckydoesafart the estate agent said yesterday it could be brought by an investor and having tenants already there could be an attractive option but I get the impression they are also advertising to homeowners too. I need to call them back next week and clarify.

Okay, so time frame wise you have at least 3 months from any section they send you, pls then they need to evict you, which takes time. As much as you dont want to, don't feel bad for your landlord if you have to carry it on to that point. If you would like help from the council, that's the point you would normally get to.

Can you ask the estate agent if you can speak to the other lanslords directly? With a letter of recommendation from the current landlord? A personal appeal may help.

Do you hVe a social worker from children with disabilities team? Speak to the team for a supporting letter for housing.

Ask housing if they have list of landlords they work with for long term private rentals , these might not need same guarantor etc

As you are working have you thought about any of the home buyers schemes?
www.helptobuyagent2.org.uk/apply-online
I also ask the landlord what he market it as a buy to let stating there is reliable tenant for 9 years might be more appealing to buyers.

So, please read up on your rights, and take with a pinch of salt some pp. You might also be better off registering and posting on mseforums as they have a significant amount of experience. First off, only you or the court can end a tenancy, not the landlord.

First up, you must be served a valid s21 notice before anything can happen, and you’ll receive a lot of advice about this there. If this hasn’t been correctly served, it’s invalid and they cannot go onto court to request the tenancy is ended.

Under the Childrens Act, the council will provide you with accommodation, but they won’t do so if they deem you to have made yourself intentionally homeless, which they class as leaving before the court bailiffs arrive. It sounds scary, but it’s a easy/common process.

Speak to your landlord, explain your issues and ask if they’re willing to contact the other landlord, or if not that you’ll do your utmost to help but at the end of the day you’ll need to be formally made homeless to access council support.

I realise this thread is old but so many comments advising that the poster just privately rents a one bedroom place with her daughter. I’ve tried this With my daughter, lettings agents and landlords will not let you rent a one bed with a child, they see it as overcrowding and point blank won’t even discuss it. A nightmare because the price difference between one and two beds is significant and could allow someone to save a small deposit.

Are you aware that lettings agents and private landlords do not allow parents with a child to rent a one bed, they insist on two and call it overcrowding. I speak from experience of being denied one bed places many times on this basis for my daughter and I.

Another section 21 post
I have never posted anything like this before, but I’m just so worn down and exhausted. Almost 8 years ago, my marriage broke down due to domestic violence when I was pregnant with my first and only child. I got away and he has no involvement in our life. I have struggled to recover financially ever since, but against the odds have retrained and am now working in the NHS at a band 6. In a year I will be a band 7. (If I pass a difficult training year). Getting to this point hasn’t been easy at all, and at one point I was studying, working and doing two clinical placements whilst also trying to be the best mum I could be to my daughter. We rent privately and have just been informed that we will soon receive our second no fault eviction in less than five years. I’m struggling to find anything locally despite my new job, and it just feels like the rug is being constantly pulled from under me. The lettings agents are being kind and will try and help me find something. I guess I’m just scared that this will jeopardise my new job and everything I’ve worked for. We have no family or friends willing to help. I can’t afford to buy in this area, but also can’t afford to leave it because this is where my training is based. If anyone has gone through anything similar I would appreciate any tips. I’m struggling to stay positive this time. 😫

That could well be a thing in your local area, but I have to disagree.

I have rented two one bed places, one of which was from a reputable company, when I had a child.

It has never been mentioned as an issue.

Maybe, I am in south east and it’s always been an issue for me, across multiple lettings agents. It’s become a no go now and I’m even afraid to ask because I’ve always had such strong reactions to it.