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Original poster

Landlord selling property

87 replies

Shell8608 · 12/03/2023 14:06

So I received a text from my landlord informing me he has no option but to sell the house I have rented for the past 13 years due to financial reasons. I am a single part to 18yo son and 15yo daughter, both still in education. I work, but am unable to afford the price of rent now which is at least £400-£500 above what I currently pay. What are my options? I will contact the council but right now I am so worried about what is going to happen. I have pets too which makes it even more tricky. What sort of temporary accommodation could I end up in? And for how long? Will I even be classed as high priority with older children?
Any advice from anyone with similar experience will be appreciated.

OP posts:
Original poster
Shell8608 · 12/03/2023 15:50

pavillion1 · 12/03/2023 15:46

OP go onto the Shelter website , lots of help on there .

Thank you

OP posts:
Supersands · 12/03/2023 15:59

Could the landlord hold off with the sale until your son has finished his a levels.
I rent with younger children and have been considering moving area as the rentals and mortgages are so high. I hope to buy in a few years. Also rental here would be £500 more than I pay currently. I hope something works out. If not would finding a better paid job be a option to help with rent?

Original poster
Shell8608 · 12/03/2023 16:12

I could only ask, he isn’t a bad person it’s just a bad situation to be in. Just feels like he’s got everything in motion already.
Thank you, just have to try and remain positive. No, a higher paid job is unlikely anytime soon- I’m an NHS employee

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

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Property legal advice
mybunniesandme · 12/03/2023 16:20

Your remaining child is a teenager so can be left on their own for long periods (discounting the 18 yr old) can you take on a second job? If the market is dictating rents £500 higher than you currently pay then it is what it is. What was the plan for your eldest now he is 18 - if he's only just going through an autism assessment presumably he's fairly high functioning? Does he work? Was he ever going to work? If he isn't and you were expected to care for him into adulthood then isn't there disability/ caters allowance you can claim? If he is capable of work then a tough conversation needs to be had that after his a levels you'll need financial help?

MrsMoastyToasty · 12/03/2023 16:21

Have you looked at moving into South Gloucestershire, BANES or North Somerset?
Rents tend to be marginally cheaper in Bristol's satellite towns and some have good public transport links.

SheilaFentiman · 12/03/2023 16:23

Is your son sitting a levels in May/June? It will probably take your landlord a while to market and sell still.

Justforlaffs · 12/03/2023 16:24

AnyFucker · 12/03/2023 14:49

The best thing all round would be to negotiate with your landlord (whose costs will have hiked massively, they are not all greedy evil overlords). Failing that, ask if he/she is going to market with you in situ. Unfortunately, that is likely to give him/her about a 20% reduction in selling price.

If you are advised to stay until bailiffs/eviction as it seems many councils do then please be aware this is not to your advantage at all. They do this to drag out the process as long as possible because they have nowhere to put you. Then it is possible you will be housed in temporary b+b accomodation miles from where you are now, plus a massive hit to your credit rating which will follow you wherever you go. Whatever you do, do not stop paying your rent as a ccj against you will wreck future credit for things like mobile phones, bank loans, payment plans for objects like furniture etc, car finance, the list goes on

Blame successive governments for hammering small landlords. They, Shelter and Generation Rent activists have a lot to answer for.

Couldn’t agree more.

Original poster
Shell8608 · 12/03/2023 16:28

mybunniesandme · 12/03/2023 16:20

Your remaining child is a teenager so can be left on their own for long periods (discounting the 18 yr old) can you take on a second job? If the market is dictating rents £500 higher than you currently pay then it is what it is. What was the plan for your eldest now he is 18 - if he's only just going through an autism assessment presumably he's fairly high functioning? Does he work? Was he ever going to work? If he isn't and you were expected to care for him into adulthood then isn't there disability/ caters allowance you can claim? If he is capable of work then a tough conversation needs to be had that after his a levels you'll need financial help?

My 18 year old plans to work, of course, he is currently in full time education studying for his A levels. He is already aware that once in employment he will contribute towards rent. He spends long periods in his room doesn’t go out etc He is high functioning yes, intelligent just social side of things, emotions, change etc.
A second job? To run myself in to the ground working over the legal amount of hours I should be, unfortunately not.
I will speak with the council tomorrow, hopefully I have a fair few months to get everything together and get my head around this situation

OP posts:
FoxInSocksSatOnBlocks · 12/03/2023 16:29

Shell8608 · 12/03/2023 15:50

He is my child! Also still
in education and currently on a referral list for autism as previously stated. He is family and we all live together just because he has recently turned 18 doesn’t make him any less important. I won’t go somewhere where only one of my CHILDREN is housed!! Already stated that rent is unaffordable so not an option unfortunately.
There is always one who has something inconsiderate and unnecessary to say

Show quote history

He may be your child, but he is a grown adult now he is 18 and legally classed as one, so for housing purposes would be counted as an adult.

You wouldn’t be housed as a mother with two children, if you were housed at all (most likely sans animals) it would be as two adults and an older child.

Original poster
Shell8608 · 12/03/2023 16:29

MrsMoastyToasty · 12/03/2023 16:21

Have you looked at moving into South Gloucestershire, BANES or North Somerset?
Rents tend to be marginally cheaper in Bristol's satellite towns and some have good public transport links.

I have looked and they are all around the same prices. I’m on the border of BANES anyway

OP posts:
Original poster
Shell8608 · 12/03/2023 16:31

SheilaFentiman · 12/03/2023 16:23

Is your son sitting a levels in May/June? It will probably take your landlord a while to market and sell still.

Yes that’s the dates- hoping this doesn’t interfere with his exams. So a few more months would be ideal

OP posts:
VanCleefArpels · 12/03/2023 16:32

Lots of good advice here

I would also say that you should not make yourself homeless for the sake of a pet - harsh but pragmatic.

You don’t say anything about income OP - have you done a benefits check to see what you might be entitled to? Turn2Us is a good one to use. If you put in a figure for a typical 2 or 3 bed place in your area it will inform you as to how much help you might get towards rent in a new place. Are you getting maintenance for your younger child?

VanCleefArpels · 12/03/2023 16:34

And absolutely wait till you get proper Notice to quit- it can take over 6 months to get a court order so you have plenty of time to figure out your options. You do not have to allow anyone in for viewings either. If it makes you feel safer you can change the locks, but keep the barrels to replace when you actually leave.

Original poster
Shell8608 · 12/03/2023 16:34

FoxInSocksSatOnBlocks · 12/03/2023 16:29

He may be your child, but he is a grown adult now he is 18 and legally classed as one, so for housing purposes would be counted as an adult.

You wouldn’t be housed as a mother with two children, if you were housed at all (most likely sans animals) it would be as two adults and an older child.

Show quote history

Adult, child, whatever, he still needs stability and a roof over his head. We are still a family who need somewhere to live.
So much negativity radiating from you it’s really unnecessary. I sincerely hope that you or any family or friends are never in this situation ….. maybe then you would have a little more compassion and better advice to give

OP posts:
Original poster
Shell8608 · 12/03/2023 16:39

VanCleefArpels · 12/03/2023 16:34

And absolutely wait till you get proper Notice to quit- it can take over 6 months to get a court order so you have plenty of time to figure out your options. You do not have to allow anyone in for viewings either. If it makes you feel safer you can change the locks, but keep the barrels to replace when you actually leave.

Being on my own I get a little help now, although not a lot. LHA for 3 beds in this area is £950 , current rent is £850 so I won’t get much more in terms of that.
6 months gives me time to explore my options and to enable my son to sit his exams without disruption.

Thanks for your advice, I don’t think I need to change locks I really don’t want to make things difficult

OP posts:
Stomacharmeleon · 12/03/2023 16:40

I hope all goes well for you OP and I understand how stressful it is. I got council accommodation but it was tight.... to the wire tight.... and it was a long process. I know you have said your landlord is a decent person but you might have to decide what your priorities are when deciding how you want to move forward.

evemillbank · 12/03/2023 16:40

I would also say to look at Shelter website. But being realistic/depending on where you live the Council may just give advice for you to seek private rent.

Rainbowshine · 12/03/2023 16:47

Hi @Shell8608 please try not to panic or take some of the posts to heart. Whilst the information in them comes across harshly, that’s the sort of criteria that councils and housing associations might use, so try to look at the situation as objectively as you can. This is where Shelter could help.

Do you have a local housing association? Do some research about how people qualify for housing with them. Most act as large private landlords now, but are willing to accept tenants that others don’t because of benefits or pets or whatever else they can get away with.

The property is not going to sell that fast and your landlord has to follow the process to evict you. That’s several weeks, and don’t forget there’s the backlog from covid impacting the speed courts will handle that. There’s a whole bunch of public holidays and school holidays that will potentially mean less staff to handle the process. If he’s selling through an estate agent that’s not going to be fast unless he finds a magic cash buyer who doesn’t care what the survey says etc. Conveyancing takes months!

So your son may well have finished his exams well before the situation is even underway.

Breathe, do some research and get help from the right people like Shelter etc. You’ll have options.

MrsMoastyToasty · 12/03/2023 16:47

You mentioned LHA for a 3 bedroom place. Have you looked at 2 bedroom places where you can share with your DD or sleep in a dining room?

Original poster
Shell8608 · 12/03/2023 16:54

I’m trying not to panic but it’s hard, the situation is consuming my thoughts.
2 bed houses aren’t much cheaper talking about £100 cheaper, also rentals are getting harder and harder to come by with many landlords selling up.
I will research local housing associations and get in touch with shelter too.
I understand things aren’t easy and I am realistic, just the way somethings are said is unreasonable. Especially when I’m in this situation full of worry and not knowing what to do

OP posts:
SheilaFentiman · 12/03/2023 16:55

MrsMoastyToasty · 12/03/2023 16:47

You mentioned LHA for a 3 bedroom place. Have you looked at 2 bedroom places where you can share with your DD or sleep in a dining room?

I would be really surprised if a property with a dining room didn’t already have that room classed as a bedroom.

Original poster
Shell8608 · 12/03/2023 16:55

Stomacharmeleon · 12/03/2023 16:40

I hope all goes well for you OP and I understand how stressful it is. I got council accommodation but it was tight.... to the wire tight.... and it was a long process. I know you have said your landlord is a decent person but you might have to decide what your priorities are when deciding how you want to move forward.

Thank you, can I ask did you get put into emergency accommodation?

OP posts:
Original poster
Shell8608 · 12/03/2023 16:56

@Rainbowshine thank you for your advice

OP posts:
VanCleefArpels · 12/03/2023 16:57

Thanks for your advice, I don’t think I need to change locks I really don’t want to make things difficult

You really do need to start being “difficult” ie not jetting your landlord get away with manipulating you out of your home. You have rights and need to exercise these to the letter to give you time and space to work out your options.

And it’s not “negativity” to point out what is likely to happen with regards to your pet and your adult child - we are just trying to put the facts out there to help you understand your options

Butterfly44 · 12/03/2023 16:57

Lots of landlords selling up. Mortgages through the roof and new government requirements meaning many homes won't be able to be rented in couple of years.

The council will consider your 18 year old as an adult. Also you won't want to risk any CCJ or affects to your credit rating. I would be looking to move. This happened to a friend of mine with two young girls. She moved to another area. She wasn't happy at the time but now she is.

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