Landlord selling property

[Shell8608]

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.

@VanCleefArpels
I guess so, it’s all just a shock and I don’t like to make life difficult for others but I do need to put my family first.
yes I understand he is classed as an adult but he lives with me and will do for the foreseeable future so how does that work. Surely it’s no different to having an adult partner who needs rehoming with me? Can’t just put him out on the streets like he doesn’t matter. I’m so confused, I’ll just contact the council and go from there

@Butterfly44
As in a completely different city? I have a job here, that would mean I would be out of work on top of this? I will continue to pay my rent until the day I leave as I always have done

Op, currently house sales are taking an average of 192 days to complete. That takes you until at least September.

Take your time and explore all the options you have.

You can say what has to happen all you like, but that doesn't mean the council will agree with you. If they tell you they will not house you with pets your choice is to accept the help or be homeless. If you refuse the help because you want to keep the pets that is it, they will not help you again as there are so many people in desperate need.

Your son is 18 and therefore an adult, he will not be seen as your dependent. He will be classed as another adult living with you, equal to having a partner. You will have to declare him, any income he generates etc and any benefits you recieve such as council tax discounts for being single mum will be removed or reduced accordingly.

@SaveMeFromMyBoobs my council allows the discount for 18 and 19’year olds who are full time students or who
have just left education. OP, hopefully your council has some leeway too.

You don't need to be difficult OP, but I would make sure the landlord follows the correct legal procedure as a minimum. This is the minimum standard they should be held to.

Correct s21 notice (issued properly) then application to court for possession etc.

A property with tenants in is very undesirable, no one would exchange until they have vacant possession. So you probably have a good few months. My landlord has been 'selling' since Jan 22, has issued 2x incorrect s21 notices. I've been able to arrange alternative hosing, and he still doesn't have a buyer...

Don't worry about CCJs, he could seek one against you for unpaid rent. (Also if you pay within 28 days a CCJs is not recorded on your credit file -FYI)

I'm not sure the council will be able to step in and accommodate you. Even if they do, it might be a 'once-or-nothing' offer to somewhere else the other end of the country. They're doing that a lot now.

Don't panic! I was in a similar position not that long ago, only my eviction date was 3 days before Christmas and actually the day my youngest was born! I stayed for another 3 months after and didn't leave until I was given an eviction date from the courts if I left before I would have intentionally made myself homeless and the council said they wouldn't help. In fact the date we were supposed to leave we couldn't as the property we were moving into was delayed having it's gas safety certificate and the bailiffs couldn't do anything as we had confirmed cases of Covid in the house - actually a blessing.
My advise is don't move out until you have some where to go. You are well in your rights to stay there until the courts send bailiffs. My situation was less desirable than yours (I don't want to post publicly as it's outing) I still found somewhere and was allowed to keep my pets. call every estate agent around you, get on lists for potential properties, phone the council, phone the housing association. You'll figure it out. Good luck.

While in full time education yes, but if he is finishing this May then by the time OP is out, he'll no longer be exempt.

@Shell8608 Please get advice from your council on your specific circumstances.

People will give you their opinions and they’ll tell you what their council will do, but they may be utterly irrelevant to your council and your circumstances.

Especially in relation to your DS.

I’m pretty sure there’s a new ruling re not refusing to rent to pet owners. Do go to Shelter, they will help.

No landlord has to accept someone with pets.

They might not be able to explicitly say they won’t rent to someone with pets, but they can choose from one of the many other candidates that doesn’t have pets/isn’t a smoker/isn’t on benefits etc.

@Shell8608 nope.
Also I don't want to Disagree with others but two of my children where over 18 and one was sixth form.
They have not been 'treated as partners'
For the sake of getting my arse handed to me on a plate if you need some advice then dm me.
I agree the housing situation is dire but 'straight to b&b' is not always the case and housing is offered.

On our council (dsis had similar scenario)
They put her and the 3 young ( under 10) dcs in a b&b 20 miles away.
No kitchen, nothing. Was there 4 months.
We live in a big city with housing shortages.
She then was given a 2 bed flat temporarily was told 6m max. That was over a year ago. She had to re home her 2 dogs and cat.

I think it depends where you live.

I am in the same position, having to move due to our landlord selling (AGAIN!). We have only been here a year but prices have already risen since then. I am constantly checking rightmove and zoopla. Also if a property has been on the market a while you can ask if they would accept a lower rent amount.

We also have pets. Whilst they are part of our family and it would literally break my heart to rehome them. If it came down to a home that was just about in budget or waiting for something pet friendly I would choose my children. So yes try and find somewhere for all of you, but also research what your options are for rehoming so you are prepared for if it does have to happen. Eg I have spoken to my local animal shelter and I know they will be well looked after until they found another home.

Also go through all your direct debits, subscriptions and outgoings. Reduce anything you can now ready as a fall back for increased rent costs or towards removals. We've cancelled charity donation, Netflix, disney plus, TV license, Spotify, my contact lenses (back to cheap glasses!). I've reduced the Internet cost. No longer get the bus Home from work except Friday. Food, toiletries, household costs I've really cut back on. No more impulsive buys, go down to the cheapest brand and work up, more vegetarian meals, utilise olio for free food, yellow label for the freezer and batch cook for lunches.

We are decluttering everything, anything that hasn't been used in the last 6 months is being sold/donated. Technology, clothes, toys, homeware, kitchen devices. This will help as less to pack & move, and if you are put in emergency accommodation less stuff to find a storage solution for.

Today we have got together £280 worth of old computer games, consoles, broken phones, dvds ready to list for sale. 6 cookbooks I don't use and a bin liner of outgrown clothes from dd2 bedroom. Ive sorted the food cupboards so we eat everything there before buying more. I don't think I need anything except fresh for around a month.

I understand its really hard but if you can find 1 hr per day to sort things out it will be far less overwhelming when you come to packing ready to move. (Trust me this is move 5 in the last 11 years, the less you have the easier it is!)

What a nasty unnecessary comment .OP is clearly stressed without a shitty comment like this ...did it make you feel better typing that?

Of course it’s necessary.

The majority of rentals do not take pets, with good reason, and it’s important OP realised that, particularly as she’s in a desperate situation.

There were nicer ways to say it, @FoxInSocksSatOnBlocks

No point sugarcoating a turd.

@FoxInSocksSatOnBlocks why are you continually making shitty comments when the OP is already stressed and worried, do you get some sort of kick out of it?

OP I'm in identical situation, landlord selling after ten years and I have autistic 10 year old dd and a beloved cat. It's a horrible way to live not knowing when you will have to leave. Prices round here have rocketed too and rentals are in short supply. I know exactly how you feel.

Thank you all for advice.
I understand things aren’t easy and yes my children are older one being 18 but we are still a family who will be in need of a home. I will speak to council tomorrow and contact everywhere as @shieldmaiden7 has advised.
With regards to my pets, if worse come to worse I will have someone to take care of them whilst I find somewhere suitable , I get to some it may just be a case of just rehoming but to me that thought doesn’t even cross my mind.
@BadgerLovesMash
I have already cut back on lots no matter how much I cut back the rent prices now are going to cripple me I plan to start going through things boxing up stuff not used often and throwing out things that don’t get used, thank you for your help :)

I have no advice OP I'm afraid but I keep seeing posts liek this and it really makes you see how vulnerable tenants can be :(
I'm in council housing. When I moved it it was literally concrete floors and ceilings, no carpet or flooring, holes in the wall... needed a complete redecorating! I had to put quite a bit of money into it but it's now our home. I guess I'm just sharing that because I didn't think council housing would be like that when moving in so where you can start saving to have a pot ready!
I really hope you find an answer and maybe the landlord/estate agent might be able to form something for you too!

Unless he sells with you as a sitting tenant, he will need to wait til you have left before he can take photos/ do viewings etc. So let it drag as long as you can. Get evicted.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz shitty thing to do