Statutory Homeless Priority Band A

[naughty40me]

Very outing but meh....

So like thousands of others we have been served a Section 21.

My date to leave expired on the 14th May.

I'm on my own, 2 teenage DC. No partner or parents to help.

I've been here 10 years and never been a penny behind in all that time.

I rented it from a family member as I couldn't get anywhere else back then with all the fees etc.

In the end they did not pay the mortgage and it was going to be repossessed. We no longer speak due to this.

A friend of his took over last year. He is a big developer and bought it in cash so no mortgage. He owns several around this area including HMOs and builds new estates aswell.

He wanted to raise the rent by over £200pcm.
He bought it with me in knowing I'm on housing benefit.
He didn't check the paperwork. My tenancy agreement states the rent cannot increase by more than 10% per year.

I took it to tribunal.

So he raised it by the 10% and served me a section 21.

He will have to do some serious renovation to achieve the price he wants. The place is a mess. But that's his call I suppose.

I cannot get another private rent as I am on benefits even though I do work part time this is not enough.

They all want a guarantor which I don't have. I can't really afford the private rates either. The LHA I get is £520pcm. Nothing exists for this price.

It's very stressful and upsetting. I've always been good with my money but just been unfortunate with my health and other circumstances.

But I guess because I am poor then my choices are limited. Feels like a big kick in the teeth.

Never done anything wrong. Look after my kids bring them up well. Have loads of friends. Not into drugs or anything just a quiet person trying to get by.

I hate that all benefits claimants are tarred with the same brush!

So anyway, I've been on the council waiting liet for about 6/7 years. Well, housing association actually.

I've now been awarded a homelessness prevention duty, had my official letter and am in the highest band A as of the 24th May.

I had a meeting with our MP a few days ago who is supporting me all the way.

My son is taking GCSEs and cannot move schools.

My job is walking distance from me and I can't drive.

My mental and physical health are long term conditions and I need to stay near my GP.

Anyway, I've been told to bid on anything suitable each and every week. I'm allowed 3 bids per week.

This week there was a total of 4x3 bed houses. I could only bid on one as the others are over an hour travel away by bus/train.

They will not let me have a 2 bed which I would be more than happy with and would sleep on a sofa bed. They just won't allow it.

I have my one to one meeting over the phone with my advisor on Monday. This is where she will listen to my full circumstances. For now I've been told to bid bid bid. I'm trying!!

I've bid on one in the next town. It would mean leaving my friends, my GP and giving up my job. I'm prepared to do this as I know I can't be picky but it does mean a 20min bus ride each way for my kids. Again do able but the council are saying I may not qualify for help with bus fares.!!

I'm hoping MP can help with this or it will be £70pcm.

Its Wakefield area/WDH if anyone is familiar.

Does anyone have any experience as to how long it will take to house us.

I've been told I have 56 days initially and it might be extended.

I have to bid. We could be put in b&b if nothing comes up.

My appointed advisor says she is dealing with 40 cases. Presumably there's more than just her working in this field so there must be loads on Band A.

Do you think that my good rent record will help?.

It's all just a nightmare. I'm not eating or sleeping and have poor mental health as it is.

And all the waiting!!

This whole situation came about just before Christmas and I've been living with the stress ever since then.

It's taking its toll.

I know I will have to move area which I will do for the sake of my kids but surely they can't expect them to travel 1hr30mins twice a day!! They may aswell go to school in Scarborough!

Wish I could drive. Everytine I Google map somewhere and check directions it's always 10/15mins in a car but over an hour on buses. So bloody awkward.

I just feel so downbeat. The people that put us in this position are sitting pretty.

I could understand if it was a small landlord that needed his pension pot or whatever. But I'm honestly small fry to this guy.

Anyway. It would appear the MP is gathering evidence as there are other complaints about him and his various companies.

Experiences of timescales would be good to hear.

And someone to moan to, friends must be sick of me by now!

I know people are far worse off and I know we won't be on the streets as such but it feels so bloody degrading to be "statutorily homeless" through no fault of my own.

It's really knocked me for six.

Thanks all

Loads of packing done today. Shattered

So sorry to hear you are in this situation - you must be shattered with the stress of it all. Have you explored all options with Shelter, or one of the other housing charities? Is there any way you can stay where you are for another month, just to see your DC through to the end of exams?

Don’t leave until the landlord has possession order. Just because the section 21 has expired doesn’t mean you should leave. If you do the council will deem you as intentionally homeless.

im sorry this is happening to you but it’s happening to a lot of people. It’s a total housing crisis.

When my son was doing his exams it meant we came under in borough need. Because if that. My other children also has special needs to that helped as well. If they don't have anything in borough for temporary accommodation then they move you as close as possible. This happend to me. Once there I appealed it and was back in my local area within 3 weeks .

It sounds good that you can already bid I could not bid until after my eviction and after the 56 days. So hopefully you might be ok as you can bid.

It's getting harder and harder to rent privately especially for people who rely on benefits to help them. Alot of people are getting section 21 now. Fingers crossed that you do get suitable social housing. For the security and that you don't have to go through it again.

It's utterly shit.

Also, make sure that you let the school know your situation if DC are taking GCSE's - the school can apply for Special Consideration. It's not a huge amount, but every bit of help is worth it.

Sorry you're going through this, it's absolute crap. I was served a section 21 after I was made to sign a new rental agreement (either I signed and had two months notice or I didn't and I had three weeks notice), and it was in the days when estate agents made you pay an application fee. I wasn't entitled to any help from the council, I was told it was because I had a job, so was facing being homeless with my toddler. You are literally at someone's mercy.
Don't worry about your kids travelling to school. If you can get them a free bus pass they will be fine. I travelled 1 1/2 hours to school every day and then back again, it didn't affect me at all. Even my son travels for thirty minutes and that was a choice we made so he could go to a good school.

Sorry about your situation

My local authority has something called the "Housing Benefit Plus" (HB+) scheme, which gives people extra money (ie in addition to the LHA) to help them to afford private rented housing. It might be worth asking your housing officer if your LA does something like that. Presumably not as they would have told you about it, but no harm in checking.

I do think your best bet would be council/HA if you can find something suitable, because it will be more affordable and you'll have a more secure tenancy. But if you are really not able to find anything suitable then you might need to consider private. You can also apply for a DHP, it's not guaranteed but if accepted it could cover some of the shortfall between LHA and actual rent.

Good luck, and do contact Shelter if you would like more advice.

Thank you for the support everyone.

My son is Year 10 and has mock exams in 2 weeks.

Not actual GCSE but still not good for him to change schools at this stage.

My daughter is going into Year 9 and has chosen her options.

The Housing Advisor has spoken to LL agency (he owns the agency aswell!)...he's willing to hold off from applying to court until end of June.

I'm hoping this means my Band A will remain a bit longer so giving me more chance.

Fingers crossed we get somewhere. I really would prefer social housing for the security. I don't want to go through this again if I can help it.

It's all the not knowing and lack of control.

Housing situation is bad everywhere. Rents in next street used to be £500ish a few years ago. Everywhere is £800 now.

And it's an ordinary working class terrace house area. People can only afford it if they have 2 wages coming in. Its crazy!

I will just bid on any 3 bed that there is. I work as a Lunchtime Supervisor so if its too far away I will have to give it up. Maybe look for same at a more local school.

So long as we have a home ill be happy.

If its dirty I will clean. It doesn't phase me. I've been saving what I can to be able to put a carpet down.

I will also need a cooker as it's all fitted in here.

I've all sorts of medical issues meaning day to day and my little job just wear me out. All this on top is a nightmare.

In a way I'm glad to be going. Trying to see it as a positive fresh start.

The bidding cycle runs Wed to Wed. They contact people a few days after so by the time they contact us I could well have bidded on 5 or 6.

Fingers crossed I come first on one of them x

Hang in there OP, sounds like you are doing everything you can

Once housed , your local council will have a team that can help you with a cooker and fridge . It’s called welfare provision And usually run by the housing benefit team. . You’ll need to provide bank statements to prove you’re on a low income .

Assessmeny meeting with Housing Options Advisor today. Lovely lady.

She said the housing association
are about 4 week behind with all their bidding and allocating.

She thinks in 2/3 weeks we may be in the top few people.

BUT they list houses as soon as they are coming free sometimes with tennants stil in...so new tenants can't go in until all repairs/checks are done.

They ring you to say you are in top 5 and then do a home visit to check your current address and then check rent account with landlord etc.

They will give me one offer of something I've bidded on which I can't refuse....those are the conditions of my priority banding.

They don't actually tell me which house until the very end.

I could end up "under offer" but waiting for keys for a few weeks/months.

So if that happens and landlord won't wait we will have to go b&b.
No cooking or washing facilities.
£182 per week.
Have to look for somewhere to store my furniture and pay for myself.

Fingers crossed we are lucky and get moved straight to a house soon.

I think ive lost about a stone in past 2 weeks; always a silver lining

Just to update.

We have been offered a home!

It is 10 miles away and 40 min door to door fir school but it's in a nice area and close to college going forward.

No keys yet so can't view it but had to accept regardless because that's the rule when in homeless priority.

I just hope we get nice neighbours.

Hopefully we move in the summer hols.

So relieved.

The stress of eviction is like nothing I've ever had before and I've been through a lot of shit in my life!

Good luck to anyone else going through this. My thoughts are with you.

Amazing news.

Good luck with the move

I'm so pleased for you . Is it social housing or private?

I hags been through this . And been in temporary accommodation it is vert stressful the unknown is the worst . But you do get through it. Really happy for you ☺️