So we're being evicted AGAIN!

[OnandOnItGoes]

3rd rented property in 7 years. Been here for 4 years. Had to leave the last two properties as landlord selling, now we're in the same situation again.

Rent always paid on time and properties always very well looked after so it's not that we're bad tenants, just the never ending game we're stuck in.

We left within the notice period of last 2 properties but can't with this one as rents are £500+ for similar properties and much smaller worse properties with no parking/horrible areas are £200-300 a month more and we simply can't afford it or find one which we are successful for as they seem to only want 'professionals' in high paying jobs.

Council have been no help and have said as both DH and I work, we need to find another rented property. I can only work part time in a low paying admin job due to caring responsibilities as need to be on hand for disabled DC for school drop/pick up and after school as no after school care (teens). We have no family support.

Also worried about being put in temp accommodation as around here it seems to be adapted office blocks with lots of anti social issues. Also as we work I understand we'll have to pay a lot for it!

Section 21 expires on 15th May and I'm aware Landlord will start court process for possession as he's very keen to get us out and get it sold. I assume he'll use the accelerated procedure as he's a professional landlord with lots of properties and is selling most of them I believe.

Does anyone know how long we may have before bailiffs? We're in the South East. I've already looked into storage facilities so we can empty the house but we have no family to stay with so not sure where we'll go from there.

Of course we will continue looking for a property and continue paying rent but any advice on timeline will be helpful if anyone has been through the process recently?

The stress is unbearable and much worse this time due to the current rental market!

I cannot help in any way, but just wanted to say how sorry I am. It must be so stressful and I hope you find a new home quickly.

Not any real help but perhaps look further away for cheaper rentals/ new job for your DH. It is awful, we desperately need to invest in council housing in this country.

Contact Shelter. They have a messenger service on Facebook and have been brilliant in the past. They reply quickly, and their answers are very helpful.

Thank you x

Thanks we've looked at that but we'd need to move at least an hour north for a property which would only be £100-200 pounds less than here which would be cancelled out by petrol costs.

DH is in his 50's and already does 12 hour days. A move north would mean lower pay for his current job anyway and it's unlikely he'd be able to move into a new field and higher paid as he's been in his current sector for over 20 years and is at top pay.

Also have DC with SEN support (EHCPs) so not as easy as moving them into a new school. Also medical care.

It’s been a while but we were in a similar situation back in 2016 except we couldn’t find a new landlord who would rent to a big family. Our section 21 expired mid April and the bailiffs came mid August.

Thank you. I have. Section 21 is valid so we can only ask for an extension for due to hardship. I knew all that anyway.

Honestly I'd like to know how people can afford current rental properties. DH is on £49k and I'm on £13k and we're getting turned down!

3 beds are £1800+ a month in our area and it's not an affluent town at all.

Current rent is £1300!

We simply can't afford £1800 as have car finance (couldn't buy outright after last one broke) and still paying off a loan for moving last time as well as increased costs for everything else.

1300 is insane never mind 1800 for a normal working class family.

I think what pp meant by moving north is moving a long way north. I've just looked and in my town you could rent a 3 bed for 400 pcm. Not fancy but it's a home. If you can afford 600 then obviously you'd get better, 800 better still. I don't know what you both do for a living but there are lots of jobs up here, and perhaps you'd be better off financially? I'd have thought given your salaries, you're not in a niche industry?

I don't know how realistic this is, but can you ask your landlord to market the property as a rental with event tenants in place?

Normally it takes 4-6 weeks to get a court date for a possession order, the judge then gives you 2-4 weeks to leave, if your not out by then the landlord has to go back to get a bailiff order which is when they can take it to the high court if the magistrate court allows them to, they cannot just do it.

When I was evicted last time the landlords solicitor asked for permission to take it to the high court and they were denied, you then normally get 2 weeks before the bailiffs come if it is a magistrate bailiff they hand delivered a letter with a date and time the bailiffs will be coming.

I would say you probably have minimum 6 weeks from the date you receive the court papers but it could be longer or shorter depending on how busy your court is.

I'm going through it again now, 3rd time since 2017!!

Airbnb!

Put your things in storage and go on and search for the people that do monthly lets.

Then message and ask if they would be willing to do a 6 month stay.

I did this and the person agreed to the stay and I'm still here over 2 years later! We struggled with traditional rentals as had two cats but this has been perfect.

I messaged about 8 or 10 properties and at least 5 of them said yes!

So you'll either get a 6 month repressive to search for a long term rental.... Or the person might agree to you staying long term.

My son could not afford to buy a home in the Midlands so moved up North to Hull. He took almost a £9k pay cut but is still massively better off. He bought a 2 bedroom terraced house for £75k. A 3 bedroom terrace cost at the time he moved £85k. Prices for a 3 bedroom terraced house now is £100k. Renting a 3 bedroom terrace is about £600. You could buy for £600 a month with a 10 percent deposit. Son says lots of jobs where he lives. He has a good quality of life and is happy there. The primary school nearest to him is Ofsted Outstanding.

The problem with this is most people buying would want to live there themselves. It would only be attractive to another LL. Also properties sold with tenants Insitu are usually sold cheaper. So in all cases LL would lose out.

I have no advice OP just wanted to let you know, you're not alone. My landlord is selling up too and I have a child with SEN. Just the upheaval for him is hard enough as it is.
Uncertainty and stress of it all can be so overwhelming. Im also in the southeast and the rents are ridiculously high.
At the moment I'm very lucky as I am only paying 1,110 for a three bedroom. I don't work as I'm a full time carer to my SEN child.
I can't find any landlord who will take benefits,and even then the rent for a two bed is over the benefit allowance by hundreds.
I don't know what I'm going to do.
I really hope you find somewhere soon. Good luck

Think about the cost of storage units, as well as the length of time you'd possibly be paying it for (10yrs+). If you're using the council's homelessness procedure, it could take many years to be rehoused. Versus the cost of replacing those items. Storage is expensive. You may be better off going very minimalist and selling anything else, while you still can sell it, to maximize your savings and also avoiding storage fees in the future. Temporary accommodation is rarely nice so would the weekly storage fees be better spent on counselling/hobbies/home adaptations, or anything else that'd help you cope with the shitty living situation until you're rehoused permanently?

The council has a duty to help you regardless of whether you're working or not. They'll bat everyone away that they can due to lack of funds. At the moment they're right, they won't help you and you need to find private rental. Once you're officially homeless that changes.

If you have nowhere else to go and can't find/afford a private rental you're going to have no choice but to use the council's homelessness procedure however much it uproots your lives. The alternative is sleeping on the streets and your DC in care.

The council won't want that either. If you rent social housing you're paying for it because you work. If you're sleeping rough and DC in care they're paying for that. If if you were on housing benefit and not working, the cost to the council of funding your home is less than the cost of taking DC into care, which they'd have to do because they can't let a DC sleep rough. Ignore what they currently say, they will help you.

Although they may not rehouse you permanently in social housing, it may be another private rental with the risk of eviction that entails. If you're going to be looking at repeated evictions due to your life circumstances (earnings potential) then that's another reason to go fully minimalist, it makes moving so much easier and cheaper.

I'm so sorry OP.

More and more LLs are selling up as it's not worth the hassle renting properties out anymore. I know MN hates BTLs but some people need rentals and there just aren't enough of them.

Council have been no help and have said as both DH and I work, we need to find another rented property.

I don't understand this? Do you mean they won't put you on the waiting list for a council home?

I agree you would be better moving north, as you have no family ties where you are.

Link to a 3 bed social housing property - they actually give preference to people who are working.

https://www.b-with-us.com/Property/60856

@sashh they have a joint income of over £60k - sadly they're v unlikely to ever qualify for social housing.

Im so sorry you're facing this OP. Our housing system is absolutely fucked up

Income isn't always taken in to account though, it depends on the council.

Sorry this is happening to you

timeline will also depend on how busy the courts are still after the brexit back log but could be another 6-12 weeks

can you also let your MP know £62k is not passing the affordability check for rental property, that is ridiculous

It's awful but I would consider moving area. I live in South Yorkshire rentals start around 400 for 3 bed. My dh works in a large city in West Yorkshire about 50min commute.

Great advice.

I'm so sorry OP. What a crap thing to happen again. As well as the massive hassle and upheaval (especially with a child) it's bloody expensive to move.

Social housing needs an enormous boost in this country to pull some of the power away from these heartless landlords.

I’ll wager you’ll find something for £1500ish in 2 months time.

Rental market is slowing. Prices will soften.

But you won’t find £1300 again. Be glad it didn’t increase in 4 years.

It’s awful that the cost of living is putting people in this position- I’m so sorry that you’re going through this.

I know it’s shit but in your position I would look at smaller, cheaper rental options. It will be shit to be a family in eg. a two bed flat. But it will be a lot better than going through the council homelessness pathway which is awful.

Start with the question “what can I rent for £1200” and choose the least bad option.

Once you’re moved in aim to overpay as much as you possibly can on your debt to get the loan and car paid off quickly which should put you in a position to move somewhere bigger again.