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Original poster

Evictions. Please don't judge

95 replies

Homesweeethome · 14/09/2023 19:43

Quite some time ago I was evicted from my home under section 21. Leading up to the evicted was stressful as I did not know what to expect for my family. I was ripped apart on mumsnet. People were really nasty. Then people did not know how things worked just thought I could wave a magic wound. ",just do this" "just do that" thought it was all so simple. Then when I explained why it was not that easy . I was ripped apart some more.

My situation is now much better and and I have now been housed and I'm very happy so are the children.

I have noticed there has been a massive rise in evictions and familys becoming homeless. I have seen people on FB housing support groups reaching out for advice. I have also seen people posting on MN posting their situation. I have seen the comment "why have children if you can't house them". But mostly people seem much more supportive than a few years or so back. There seens to be more understanding and empathy.

Please be kind to people who are losing their home they are not in that situation because they want to be times are tuff for them.

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 17/12/2023 00:37

I wonder if the unkind posters here would be ripping OP apart if she had 5 kids with someone who had since died.
It always seems to boil down to the woman making bad choices with men, and the woman getting judged for it.

BouncingJAS · 17/12/2023 00:39

@WolfAndBadger

Wrong on all counts.

If you have enough income to have 5 children, then knock yourself out. Nobody will ever complain about it.

But when you are living with 5 children and near poverty level, that is when you open yourself up to criticism.

Having 2/3 children is one thing. But 5?

Its insanely irresponsible. There is zero point in sugarcoating this fact.

BouncingJAS · 17/12/2023 00:40

@XenoBitch

Thats what term insurance is for. It covers the family if the main provider dies.

LorlieS · 17/12/2023 00:44

@XenoBitch It's not about "making bad choices with men", it's about making financially expensive choices. Children are expensive.

Original poster
Homesweeethome · 17/12/2023 00:48

BouncingJAS · 17/12/2023 00:39

@WolfAndBadger

Wrong on all counts.

If you have enough income to have 5 children, then knock yourself out. Nobody will ever complain about it.

But when you are living with 5 children and near poverty level, that is when you open yourself up to criticism.

Having 2/3 children is one thing. But 5?

Its insanely irresponsible. There is zero point in sugarcoating this fact.

There's absolutely no point to your post either. My youngest are in key stage 2. Its been done the kids are here it's pointless. As I said you can go through eviction, weather you have 1 child or 8. You can loose a job, relationship break down you don't even know my situation. You just chose to make assumptions.

OP posts:
BouncingJAS · 17/12/2023 00:53

This reply has been deleted

We are taking this down as it is not in the spirit of the site.

Original poster
Homesweeethome · 17/12/2023 00:54

This reply has been deleted

We are taking this down as it is not in the spirit of the site.

This is my point . You are totally wrong the only thing you have right is I have 5 kids 😅

OP posts:
LorlieS · 17/12/2023 01:00

@BouncingJAS Not everybody can afford to buy? Husband and I both work but still have no choice but to rent privately. We have a long-term tenancy in place but always gave the risk of this not being renewed at the end of it. We don't rely on the state, we are entirely self-sufficient.

BouncingJAS · 17/12/2023 01:07

@LorlieS

Which is precisely why you made responsible choices.

How would your life be with 5 children?

We all pay for these irresponsible decisions via higher taxes.

Until people realise "5 children is not ok when you are near poverty line" the situation on tje ground will continue to get worse.

Original poster
Homesweeethome · 17/12/2023 01:13

BouncingJAS · 17/12/2023 01:07

@LorlieS

Which is precisely why you made responsible choices.

How would your life be with 5 children?

We all pay for these irresponsible decisions via higher taxes.

Until people realise "5 children is not ok when you are near poverty line" the situation on tje ground will continue to get worse.

Wrong again 🤣

OP posts:
LorlieS · 17/12/2023 01:15

@Homesweeethome Do you mean as in factually incorrect.here?

Original poster
Homesweeethome · 17/12/2023 01:20

LorlieS · 17/12/2023 01:15

@Homesweeethome Do you mean as in factually incorrect.here?

I'm not sure what you mean . But I mean assumptions that I'm close to the poverty line, assumptions about my housing situation. Assumptions that eviction can't happen to anyone. I have not even put my full situation here so no one actually knows.

OP posts:
LorlieS · 17/12/2023 01:25

@Homesweeethome Eviction can absolutely happen to anyone. Are you in private rental the same as we are? It's never a "given" and I always get so stressed out as our tenancy becomes near to renewal. The private rental market is so expensive in our area and suitable properties are very rare indeed.

Thenewmags · 17/12/2023 01:35

I have noticed there has been a massive rise in evictions and familys becoming homeless.

Not sure if we’re just talking about families but there’s also a massive rise in individuals becoming homeless. So yeah it can also happen if you have zero children.

In fact the single male and females who are homeless are less likely to be rehoused if they don’t have any dependents, even if they’re quite young and sadly many older teens are thrown out their houses by loll family.

And I think the rules have changed thankfully but I recall at one point young (single/no kids) adults below a certain age weren't entitled to any housing benefit.

Original poster
Homesweeethome · 17/12/2023 09:32

Thenewmags · 17/12/2023 01:35

I have noticed there has been a massive rise in evictions and familys becoming homeless.

Not sure if we’re just talking about families but there’s also a massive rise in individuals becoming homeless. So yeah it can also happen if you have zero children.

In fact the single male and females who are homeless are less likely to be rehoused if they don’t have any dependents, even if they’re quite young and sadly many older teens are thrown out their houses by loll family.

And I think the rules have changed thankfully but I recall at one point young (single/no kids) adults below a certain age weren't entitled to any housing benefit.

Edited

It's definitely shit for young single people. I think if the person is under 35? They are entitled to room rate housing benefit/ housing element. But actually finding and getting accommodation is hard.

OP posts:
MintsSpy · 17/12/2023 09:47

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I also completely agree with this.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 17/12/2023 09:49

LorlieS · 17/12/2023 00:26

Please don't think I am "ripping apart" by saying this, but I do see where @BouncingJAS is coming from.
Husband and I have one gorgeous little girl between us and would have dearly have loved another, but despite both working ft we simply could not afford another child. We don't have enough money to buy our own home so we have no choice to rent privately which is so incredibly expensive but we just about manage. Our toddler certainly doesn't go without ♥️
.

And your husband leaves you or dies......... can you still afford all that on one wage?

People's circumstances change. Just think to yourself thank god I'm not going through that.........

People have no compassion on here sometimes.

Rickenbackergoodgrief · 17/12/2023 10:33

I'm glad that you've got another home for you and your children op.
People need to understand that their lives can be turned upside down in the blink of an eye.
Any one of us can become homeless at any time.
I'm very lucky that I've never been in that situation, but it doesn't mean that I never will be.
People need to get off their high horses, stop being smug about their own perfect lives and get some empathy.
For anyone else facing uncertainty about their homes, I hope it works out for you and you manage to get the help that you need.
Good luck in your new home op.

Thenewmags · 17/12/2023 10:34

It's definitely shit for young single people. I think if the person is under 35? They are entitled to room rate housing benefit/ housing element. But actually finding and getting accommodation is hard.

Yes I think that is the current law but at one point under the last 13 years of Tory rule, under 21s were excluded completely from getting housing benefit. So under 35s got room rate, under 21s got nothing. Glad that’s changed.

LorlieS · 17/12/2023 11:02

@OhhhhhhhhBiscuits I'm the main earner and we both have insurance so yes.

I was a single mum myself for 5 years when my boys were both tiny and got no financial help at all from my ex-husband, hence why I ended up privately renting a damp and cold two-bed when we escaped for safety. I worked my butt off to be able to pay the bills.

Original poster
Homesweeethome · 17/12/2023 11:17

LorlieS · 17/12/2023 11:02

@OhhhhhhhhBiscuits I'm the main earner and we both have insurance so yes.

I was a single mum myself for 5 years when my boys were both tiny and got no financial help at all from my ex-husband, hence why I ended up privately renting a damp and cold two-bed when we escaped for safety. I worked my butt off to be able to pay the bills.

What would happen If you couldn't work ?

OP posts:
LorlieS · 17/12/2023 11:19

@Homesweeethome If I genuinely couldn't work then I would receive benefits and other support? But that was incredibly unlikely as a healthy person.

hopeforchanging · 17/12/2023 11:24

Gosh, where this conversation turned. 😅

Thank you all for the useful info. I don't want to give out my exact location, as it may give out my identity and I would be risking issues in my work. But yes, I am live the UK. Earning the equivalent of 30 hours on minimum wage. 1 lovely child, no pets. I was given the S21 two months ago, but it was taken back by the landlord because the offer to buy the flat we live in was taken back too. This prevents me from seeking help from local authority, as they will only speak to you if you have a valid S21 and within 56 days of it running out. So we are now in limbo of waiting, it can be days, weeks, months, it can be another year before we get another notice. The information in here however provided me with an idea of how it looked for other mums when it happened to them. Everyone was so informative and supportive. This is I think where the thread should have ended, as anything beyond are opinions and speculations that lead to a bitter feeling in everyone on this thread. I just pray for everyone in here that has a lovely husband and secure home to maintain that blessed position, and for anyone like me to get a peace of mind by reading the earlier posts on how things go if you have the misfortune of ending up homeless with a child.

LorlieS · 17/12/2023 11:30

@Homesweeethome If you read my posts on here you will see that I have been in a very similar position to yourself financially and I get it. We risk eviction too, simply by privately renting. But no choice. I have been renting - both as a single mum and more recently as a married parent - for a decade.

I think @BouncingJAS comments were related to the 5 children element in this? But I don't wish to comment on her behalf of course.

Original poster
Homesweeethome · 17/12/2023 11:35

LorlieS · 17/12/2023 11:19

@Homesweeethome If I genuinely couldn't work then I would receive benefits and other support? But that was incredibly unlikely as a healthy person.

Ok I understand. But some people can't work due to disability/illness, disabled/special needs child other reasons to. Hence they may not be able to afford the rent. Or section 21 etc. It's not ad simple as well I rented a run down house to make sure my children had a place to live . I'm not saying that's wrong it's fantastic. But some people can't even get their foot in the door.

OP posts: