Eviction/homeless

[Homeshouses]

I have noticed alot of families being evicted and put into temporary accommodation. I went through this twice myself. But its definitely got worse over the past few years. It seens to be mainly no fault evictions and familys who are not able to private rent due to rents being so heigh Or they are on a low wage etc.

Theses familys are then put into temporary accommodation. Alot of this accommodation is very sub standard. Rats,mice, bed bugs ,damp,mold. It's also very expensive even though conditions are often as mentioned above.

There's not much point to my post really . I just feel bad for so many familys going through it. I can happen to anyone.

It's appalling, @Homeshouses

Evictions for many reasons. Most connected to UC; I think some not receiving the full amount, others not able to borrow the full rent amount from the start. Various reasons.

Add then the rent being put up and not being able to be managed. One person had lived in a dilapidated property for years, where the landlord (multi millionaire) had refused to make repairs. They couldn't even exit the back of their house, which I'm sure must be illegal. People are too afraid to report conditions in case they're evicted, and still the government drag their feet, and delay, on the no fault evictions - appalling.

Thats not always possible now, i ve been served a sect21, 4 months in and despite looking as hard as i can, everywhere has 20 or 30 people going for one flat/house.
I'm also paying the increased rent as sect 13 served a few days later, i was there 21 years and never missed a rent payment, got the LL a new boiler and decorated the place, at my cost.

What would you suggest i do? take my 2 boys and live in cardboard boxes?

The Govt has made private renting (for the LL) harder/more costly/lack of reg on btl mortgages (interest only should never have been allowed) BUT at the same time not provided alternatives for tenants.

Absolutely right. People who are renting out properties should be aware, surely. The tenant, in the situation above, will be advised to go through the eviction process. They have no choice.

The idea that tenants can just find another property is laughable. 80% of people claiming the housing element of UC are working - but are badly paid or working around childcare or caring responsibilities - or all three! In the city I live in - South coast - the maximum housing element payment is £1,690 - the cheapest three bed on Rightmove is £1,850 - people aren’t staying on and ‘refusing’ to leave in pursuit of a council house, they aren’t choosing to have them and their kids in bunk beds in a single room in emergency housing because they want to, they are doing it because the private rental market is totally unaffordable and they have no options left.

Rents have gone up because LL mortgage interest costs have gone up, gas and electricity certificates costs have gone up too, as have maintenance charges for repairs. LL have just passed some costs on to tenants. Some of my properties on trackers have gone up 14 times in 16 months. A LL can only increase the rent once a year so of course it's going to be a rig rent increase from 1 year ago. The properties I have on 5 year fixed I have put up less but tbh they have helped cover shortfall from the ones on trackers. If the government stopped adding to legislation then less LL would leave the sector. I think this has just dawned on Sunak because he scrapped EPC C rating for now. If he'd gone ahead masses more LL would leave the market putting rental prices still higher.

Landlord here also. totally agree and think the government made a major mistake when it stopped paying tenants rent directly to landlords. many tenants make the mistake of using the rent for something else and they bury their heads in the sand and the debt gets worse and worse. I had one tenant who asked the council to pay rent directly to me and he stay there in the flat till he died. What really annoys me is when they dont pay rent but go on social media showing off their new tattoo or they new nails and their foreign holiday pics!!!!

I don't blame people for staying put and forcing an eviction, when it's the only way to get help from the council, especially if they have children. If LL's don't like it then you should be directing your anger at the council, not the tenant! I don't see why an eviction notice isn't enough, I mean the LL isn't suddenly going to change their mind and let a tenant stay. So why people are forced to go through all the hoops I don't know.

It is so hard to find a property to rent. There was a thread at the weekend with someone asking what they could put in a letter to a prospective LL so that they would be "chosen". So it's really not as simple as "just find somewhere else". Reading it I realised I'd be screwed if I needed to private rent as there are a few factors that would make me an unappealing tenant! Not that I do anything wrong, but the bar is just so high and there's so much competition.

The UC element of rents has been frozen for many years, it simply doesn't reflect rent costs but i suppose you d at least get some money from bad tenants, who should be fast tracked evicted if deliberately not paying.

@caringcarer Sounds like you ve a poor business model and have over extended yourself, why would anyone be foolish enough to have a btl mortgage on a tracker with interest rates at historical lows?

You are of course part of the problem, speculating on the misery of others, aided by both Tory and Lab governments who encouraged you to do so.

Housing for the less well off, should never be put in the hands of private LLs.

Totally agree its wrong. But eviction can take around 6 months depending on area. So as far as council are concerned tenant can stay for another 6 months . They don't care about the effect on landlord or tenant.

I've got roughly 3 weeks left on a section 21. Been here 13 years. I work and it's been a race trying to get a private property. I have good references but there's so many people going for one property. Then some have a salary minimum.

The best hope I've got right now is living in a hotel with 2 children, one with disabilities. Absoloute nightmare all of it.

No one should have to live somewhere damp,mouldy or infested with insects and vermin. Not even if its temporary. It's just not acceptable in modern Britain. I don't understand why councils are not compelled to ensure that the housing they provide is fit for human habitation.
As for evictions, the system is geared, and has been for at least the last 30 years to my knowledge, to the fact that councils are not obliged to rehouse people until and unless they are literally homeless. That doesn't happen until they are actually evicted.
The issue is lack of adequate housing, either privately or through the councils and housing associations. The situation was already bad before the introduction of right to buy council homes, and councils are left with a depleted stock and increasingly more people to house. This will get worse given how difficult and expensive it is to rent privately.
The introduction of stricter legislation for landlords has meant there are even fewer homes available to rent.
It's an awful situation and there needs to be a huge programme of building decent homes.

It works both ways;

Tenants - landlords have it easy and it doesn't matter as they can afford two+ houses it's only a business. I deserve to stay so I get a 2 bedroom council property with a garden.

Landlords - I just want an easy tenant paying the rent so in the long term the house becomes my pension. Repairs are reasonable and to the same standard I live.....I just got attack my the shower in my house we own.

Round here the LAHA pays for a 3 bed room terrace in a mining town vs the 2 bedroom semi with a garden they get through the council. Of course people want to be effected to get a house for life.

How do you find the balance is the million dollar question. Home owners are forced to move areas (our house in a city would be 200k+ more) to get on the housing ladder until renters are forced to do the same vs getting a council property you will always have conflict

You missed out:

Landlord: I need my house back. Please leave and fund a new home. Why are you making it hard its my house.

Tenant: I would just leave. But I have no here to go. Rents are to heigh. Its impossible to find anywhere that will take UC. The council have told me I have to go through the Eviction process or I will be deemed as making myself homless. They then won't help me. This could lead to social services becoming involved

Tenants - landlords have it easy and it doesn't matter as they can afford two+ houses it's only a business. I deserve to stay so I get a 2 bedroom council property with a garden.

That's not why that happens. I strongly suggest you read the thread.

Agree with you. Its not that simple at all.

Some of the tone deaf ill informed tenant bashing on here is awful. If you read up on it you realise that UC is paid largely to working people, that the housing element doesn’t meet real housing costs, that underfunded local authorities cannot secure and pay for housing for people in need, and that the housing situation is out of control.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/oct/23/high-rents-and-benefit-cuts-push-poorer-renters-out-of-uks-cities-report-finds

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67076914.amp

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/oct/23/ministers-accused-of-betraying-renters-in-england-with-delay-to-no-fault-evictions-ban

It's awful and some kids dying because of mould on their bedroom wall.. homelessness is a charity close to my heart.

Reads like social cleansing to me

I have a good business model with a mix of trackers, 5 year fixed rates, 2 year fixed rates, interest only and 2 on repayment plans, and 1 paid off. Our company has very low gearing. Interest rates are not at historical lows they are reasonably low compared to when they were almost 10 percent. Up until 2 years ago they were on 1.38 percent. You are entitled to your opinion but my tenants often ask if I have a house their sister, cousin or friends can rent. Why would they do this if I was a terrible LL? Successive governments have failed to provide enough social housing for people who for various reasons need to rent. Without the private rental sector where would people live. If there were no PRS tomorrow there would not be enough temporary accommodation to house the millions from the PRS.

But it is not wrong, the law says a tenant is entitled to notice and a court order. The tenant is not wrong for staying after notice. Last time I read the it the law said the notice is notification that the landlord intends to apply for possession ,not that they have to vacate