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Original poster

So we're being evicted AGAIN!

500 replies

OnandOnItGoes · 01/05/2023 22:48

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!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
15
HipHipCimorene · 02/05/2023 17:12

It can take as little as a few weeks or as much as a few months for the LL to get a court order.

Accelerated will obviously be at the lower end of that scale.
It depends how busy the courts are.
I know Hertfordshire courts are inundated at the moment

LadyLapsang · 02/05/2023 17:15

Hi OP, I just wanted to say sorry you are in this horrible situation. Roughly where do you need to get to for work & school?

Poochypaws · 02/05/2023 17:16

Sorry if you have already addressed this but having been a landlord and tenant (and hating both) I would if there is any way at all get out of the rental game.

I mean I know property prices down south are really high but is there anyway you could buy an ex council flat. Even if it meant having the livingroom as a bedroom (so a one bed flat could be used as a two bed). Just get a decent size kitchen and put a sofa in it.

I know it's not a very good solution at all. It would however get you out of the rental trap where you can't save because your rent is so high. Just getting off of that would give you some stability and security even if it was tiny. It would be yours and you couldn't be evicted.

Apologies if this upsets you but it was just an idea. I mean you both work and so could get a mortgage. Surely there would be something within your budget? Or am I just being completely clueless?

My complete sympathy regardless. Life is hard enough without this kind of nightmare.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Property legal advice
Startyabastard · 02/05/2023 17:16

Indoorcatmum · 02/05/2023 00:44

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.

Is this realistic with a disabled child though? Your life is not the same as the OP's.

RenovationNightmare · 02/05/2023 17:17

One of my friends was in a similar situation (in London) las year, she ended up renting a two bed Victorian house with a slightly bigger eat in kitchen. She used the dining room as her bedroom and gave the two upstairs bedrooms to her kids. While this is not ideal, is it an option?

Thesharkradar · 02/05/2023 17:17

GoodChat · 02/05/2023 13:50

I'm sure he's not selling for fun.

That PP only suggested a caravan as a stop gap. You're finding issues with every suggestion that avoids a CCJ when ultimately that'll leave you homeless anyway.

Show quote history

he's selling because it's not as lucrative/convenient/in his interests as it used to be
blame the gvt for allowing the housing market to become so dysfunctional, landlords are rentiers and will do whatever gets them the best return

Nocutenamesleft · 02/05/2023 17:19

ballerinagirl · 02/05/2023 01:47

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 Flowers

I am so sorry. I was a lettings agent and it’s absolutely shit!

we never had one landlord take on someone on benefits and we had lots of enquiries.

the problem now is you’ve got 45 people wanting a property so landlords have the cream of the crop.

its going to collapse soon enough.

Tulipsemerging · 02/05/2023 17:20

PsycheEros · 02/05/2023 16:54

We moved out of our rental property at the end of last year when we bought our house. We paid £1800 PCM for it (3 bedrooms, in Bristol). It was put back on the market after we left for £2,300 a month. Absolutely gross. And I know for a fact my landlords are living rent-free in an extremely nice house which comes as a perk of one of their jobs, and both are in high paying roles. The rental was bought many years ago for not much money so no way do they have a big mortgage on it. Just greed, plain and simple.

This.

There is a massive amount of greed from LL. Lucky enough to be able to afford more than 1 property (sometimes rentals are inherited from family) and then as in the case you mentioned bump up the rent to as high as they can knowing that renters are desperate.

Shame that there aren't more rental controls.

Nocutenamesleft · 02/05/2023 17:21

OnandOnItGoes · 02/05/2023 13:14

Fuck me! We should of course live in a caravan with two disabled children so my landlord can sell to make £150k profit for basically doing nothing.

We should know our place of course.

Where are you? I was a lettings agent and have a few contacts.

im in the south east too. Well south really.

orangegato · 02/05/2023 17:22

FirstTimeNameChanger · 02/05/2023 08:29

I have no skin in this game - I'm a homeowner and not a landlord. I can't say it's a great look for landlords to come onto a thread as distressing as this and start bleating on about how badly they've been treated. But they are seemingly unable to help themselves, so whatever.

I would say that I hope OP takes professional advice (Shelter) over poorly written amateur landlord's advice from Mumsnet!

But landlords being treated bad and packing it in has caused the current situation? I’m not a LL but I can see why they’d be selling, the government practically criminalising it

Startyabastard · 02/05/2023 17:23

Cruis · 02/05/2023 13:06

Can u buy a caravan to live in whilst u look. Not ideal I know but would put a roof over your heads. It’s awful how few rentals about, government not helping landlords to stay renting at all. Just sold a very nice warm 5 berth caravan for £4,000 is cheaper ones about too. You would have to move it from site to site I guess unless u could come to agreement with some one. I lived in one for two years, wasn’t pleasant at times but we managed.

In what world would this situation be suitable for a disabled child???
Moving caravans every few months in a non permanent structure with inadequate facilities... think of the winter months.
Some people on here are fucking deluded!!!! 🙄

SamShortForSambuca · 02/05/2023 17:24

Indoorcatmum · 02/05/2023 00:44

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.

Over two years ago - so late 2020 / early 2021 when it was lockdown and there were minimal tourists to fill airbnbs? Things are very different now.

Last year my private landlord evicted me and turned my home into an Airbnb.

Airbnb monthly lets are also typically much much more expensive than a normal AST.

Porkandbeans1 · 02/05/2023 17:27

What is your DHs job? Relocation might be a good option, especially seeing as he is approaching retirement age and you don't own a property.

These threads always turn into a landlord bash. If it was so lucrative then why are so many selling up? And whilst so many are selling why aren't house prices coming down significantly?

ThisSingleMama · 02/05/2023 17:31

@SamShortForSambuca that poster was trying to help

The caravan situation would be a far better solution than a room in a b and b where you have to vacate premises during the day and share bathroom/kitchen with god knows who

DanceMonster · 02/05/2023 17:33

ThisSingleMama · 02/05/2023 17:31

@SamShortForSambuca that poster was trying to help

The caravan situation would be a far better solution than a room in a b and b where you have to vacate premises during the day and share bathroom/kitchen with god knows who

It would still be an awful solution with a disabled child, though.

PollyAmour · 02/05/2023 17:33

Relocating, buying a caravan, purchasing an ex council property - are any of these ideas actually doable?

OP, I feel for you and I hope you manage to find somewhere that you can afford.

Tulipvase · 02/05/2023 17:34

I thought there was an equation used to work out affordability? Something like 33 x months rent should equal your salaries. On that basis, £1800 would work.

Of course being able to actually afford it is a different matter but they shouldn’t be dismissing you out of hand.

HipHipCimorene · 02/05/2023 17:34

Tulipsemerging · 02/05/2023 17:20

This.

There is a massive amount of greed from LL. Lucky enough to be able to afford more than 1 property (sometimes rentals are inherited from family) and then as in the case you mentioned bump up the rent to as high as they can knowing that renters are desperate.

Shame that there aren't more rental controls.

Show quote history

My relative has been affected by a large increase on their mortgage for the rental they have and for the past 6months have been losing money. Quite a lot I understand. It’s costing them to rent out their parents old house. So they have had to issue a s21 and are gutted for the tenants.

They gave the option to the tenants of buying it ( at a reduced sum ) or increasing the rent. Neither of which they took.

As they as LLs work they are paying a lot in tax on the rent. So they had no choice.

Coffeelotsofcoffee · 02/05/2023 17:35

sashh · 02/05/2023 03:47

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

They will help. The problem is the cost of temporary accommodation where you'll initial be places is very high. For some reason it's exempt from the local housing allowance. So on their salaries the OP and her hub would be liable for the rent in temp accommodation. Which can be in the 1000s and 1000s. On benefits the cost is covered for u.
It means that those in work are essentially blocked from accessing council housing. As in places like cariff where I live going down the homeless route is the only way to access social housing.
It's a ridiculous situation and so unfair. X

YunaBalloon · 02/05/2023 17:37

FirstTimeNameChanger · 02/05/2023 08:29

I have no skin in this game - I'm a homeowner and not a landlord. I can't say it's a great look for landlords to come onto a thread as distressing as this and start bleating on about how badly they've been treated. But they are seemingly unable to help themselves, so whatever.

I would say that I hope OP takes professional advice (Shelter) over poorly written amateur landlord's advice from Mumsnet!

OP has taken advice from shelter. And I don't think it's wrong tom point out WHY so many landlords are selling up. I know Mumsnet hates BTL landlords, but the reality is people have to live somewhere and OP is struggling to find somewhere due to government policies (right to buy & current landlord regulations being increased).

It's shit OP. I would recommend you remain after your notice expires - it's totally legal so long as you pay rent and you won't get a CCJ until the bailiffs actually have to come, which will be 4-6 months depending on area.

If moving area, just be careful about where, I'm "in the North" and local rental prices are similar to where you are currently. The north isn't a homogeneous utopia of cheap living.

NeedToChangeName · 02/05/2023 17:46

RenovationNightmare · 02/05/2023 17:17

One of my friends was in a similar situation (in London) las year, she ended up renting a two bed Victorian house with a slightly bigger eat in kitchen. She used the dining room as her bedroom and gave the two upstairs bedrooms to her kids. While this is not ideal, is it an option?

@RenovationNightmare I know you mean to be helpful, but your post made me smile, I'm afraid. Up and down the country, millions of people eat in the kitchen and cope just fine without a dining room....... I think OP's situation requires more drastic measures, sadly

JackiePlace · 02/05/2023 17:50

Can you go to the eviction hearing and plead with the judge for more time to find accommodation?
Or stay with a friend temporarily — you will be classified as homeless and the Council will be obligated to house you. I don't think that working disqulifies you from social housing (?)

HipHipCimorene · 02/05/2023 17:55

JackiePlace · 02/05/2023 17:50

Can you go to the eviction hearing and plead with the judge for more time to find accommodation?
Or stay with a friend temporarily — you will be classified as homeless and the Council will be obligated to house you. I don't think that working disqulifies you from social housing (?)

Most don’t even have a hearing.
Its just a rubber stamp from the judge, no court room involved
Its only an issue if the s21 is deemed invalid

Greycheck · 02/05/2023 17:57

On the assumption the s.21 is valid and the landlord is on the ball then the claim can be issued the next day after s.21 expires, possession order at day 15 and eviction at day 30 (to give the minimum 14 days notice).
In reality, courts in the SE aren't moving that quickly and if a hearing is needed (maybe because you will ask for more time under exceptional hardship) then much longer. Still shit though and sorry you are going through this.