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Original poster

Being evicted, can't get through to anyone who can help and we're scared

214 replies

demonchilde · 30/05/2017 14:01

Hi all - posting here for traffic, in a bit off a panic at the moment. Quite a long back story to it, I did have a thread in legal about it all, I will try and link to it.

I'm a lone parent of 4 DC's (still at home), currently doing a nursing degree. It's been a bit of a year in general- DS4 (11) has ASD so suffers from quite severe behavioural and sleep problems. DS3 very sadly lost his best friend of 10 years to brain cancer a few weeks ago and this has affected him really badly - he has become very anxious, is having panic attacks, sleeping problems and has been pulling his hair out. DD2 (18) is due to start her a levels next week.

We were served a section 21 in our private rented house of 10 years back in February. I looked everywhere but couldn't find anything at all - rental prices have rocketed round here and as a student with no wage or guarantor no one will rent to us anyway. We went to the council who said they couldn't help us. Went to shelter then CAB who advised us the council were obliged to help us. They are not helpful - almost impossible to get through to, and advised us we have to wait for the landlord to take us to court for possession and then eviction.

The landlord has now done this. We were allocated a hearing to ask for a couple of extra weeks for exceptional circumstances due to my daughter's A- levels. But the hearing was this morning and the judge denied our application for extra time, and granted the landlord possession from tomorrow. They have also said I have to pay a significant amount to him in court costs that I cannot afford. This is so unfair as we are only still here because the council have insisted we stay until the bailiffs arrive.

I have just spoken to the landlord- he has agreed to store our things for 2 weeks if we go voluntarily, meaning we will be saved the cost and the DC's being scared by the bailiffs but the council have said no, if we do that we make ourselves voluntarily homeless and they will have no duty to house us.

So now, he is instructing high court bailiffs who I am told will probably be here within the week. I can't get through to the council. I have nowhere to store our stuff, yet they are saying they do not have to help us with that. We still have our cat here- all the catteries are full up. The council have told us we will be in a b and b indefinitely which could be anywhere within a 30 mile radius. I have no idea how I will get my children to school if we are far away. Really panicking here and I can't get through to anyone.

Can anyone advice me what I should do from here? I'm really panicking.

OP posts:
SoyUnPerdedor2 · 30/05/2017 15:19

Sending you good vibes.
We are in a very similar situation, except we didn't get a warning.
Came home to find bailiffs had changed locks.
We had nothing other than the clothes we were wearing.
Council have been ok, but very slow.
Still no news of any kind of place.
But I was told LL is required to leave our stuff untouched for 28 days.
At least.

GeekLove · 30/05/2017 15:28

Bumping for traffic - how are you doing? Taking action will help increase your control of the situation.

SofiaAmes · 30/05/2017 15:34

Do the children need to be there to establish that you are not leaving voluntarily. Can you at least send them to a friend?

drspouse · 30/05/2017 15:35

How awful for you - could any of your children's friends' parents help with the cat and storage, and is there a friend of your 18 year old who can have them for a couple of weeks till the A levels are over? Maybe school knows of someone among the parents who has done this before/is a foster carer with an empty bed or similar? Or even a teacher??

drspouse · 30/05/2017 15:36

Do the children need to be there to establish that you are not leaving voluntarily
I would imagine if it's daytime, unless it's half term, they will be at school (the eldest might be studying/having tuition anyway).

Pardonwhat · 30/05/2017 15:37

Presuming you're a member of the RCN, try ringing them for advise? www.rcn.org.uk/get-help/member-support-services/welfare-service

I'd imagine the same for Unison. Alternatively, whatever union you may be a member of.
I'm so sorry that you've found yourself in this situation. Is there a hardship fund at your university you could apply for to at least get you in somewhere temporarily? Try ringing up student services.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

youaredeluded · 30/05/2017 15:38

I feel quite sorry for you and also your landlord :( Council shouldn't give this advice it is ridiculous, they should be willing to help people as soon as the LL serves notice.

blamethecat · 30/05/2017 15:42

I can not add more than has already been suggested, but just wanted to add my sympathy, what a terrible, stressful situation. I hope you get some real life help soon.

llangennith · 30/05/2017 15:45

Whereabouts are you OP?

TheWitchAndTrevor · 30/05/2017 15:49

Flowers I'm sorry demon my friend went through the same Sad

There is some good advice on here.

Mibby16 · 30/05/2017 15:55

OP mentions Medway council in the other thread , which is Kent (I think?)

TeddyIsaHe · 30/05/2017 15:55

Whereabouts are you based op? Happy to have cat and store belongings for you if you need.

Second the advice above about going into the council offices and not leaving until they help. They are duty bound to house you, and if you do go in and talk to someone, they will generally act more kindly when face to face. Don't be argumentative, by do stand your ground on this - you need to be able to get your children to school and yourself to uni. Thinking of you in this horribly stressful time Flowers

Bumbumtaloo · 30/05/2017 15:59

So sorry you are going through this OP it really is shit.

We went through an awful time with our ex LL and council. In desperation after yet another visit to the council offices which reduced me to tears and I simply got up and left. I sent an eight page email to our local councillor.

I won't go into great detail about what I said as it will out me (I also have MH issues as well as a chronic illness) but I'm happy for you to PM.

The long and short of it was we were awarded almost double the points we needed to be housed.

I know it won't help you through the eviction process OP but it may help in the long run.

Flowers
QuiteLikely5 · 30/05/2017 16:04

Please please go to welfare services at your university!!!!

They can and will help you!!!

Some uni have family accomodation too

ItsNotRocketScienceThough · 30/05/2017 16:10

This sounds awful.
Can students union or university welfare help or advise?
Can your daughter stay with a friend or relative during her exams?

picklemepopcorn · 30/05/2017 16:14

I remember. I wondered how you were doing. I'm so sorry to hear you are still in this awful situation.

Make sure school know, for DCs

Are there any welfare services there that could help?

I'm ashamed our society is like this.

space83 · 30/05/2017 16:27

Defo second going to student services - also, might be worth contacting link lecturer as they might be able to get you nurses' accommodation for the time being.

Also ring CAB again and search for solicitors - waiting at the council is an idea from tomorrow as then you will technically be homeless and the responsibility of the housing dept (esp with minors).

Your landlord sounds like quite a tit by the way - none of this sounds your fault or deserved. Some rental places will take professional (ie lecturer) references as guarantor.

Have you family?

Hope things start to look up. x

chickenowner · 30/05/2017 16:29

I agree with talking to your university. They have spare accommodation reserved for emergencies.

I know because I was found a room in a hall of residence as an emergency when one of my (male) housemates tried to get into my room, and reported me to the police with a made up story when I refused to sleep with him. It was a horrible, frightening episode. I went to speak to someone in the accommodation office the following morning and they found me a place that day. I was 24 at the time so an adult, but they helped me.

This was about 20 years ago, but I'm sure that universities have similar things in place now.

I hope it all works out for you.

specialsubject · 30/05/2017 16:30

No, it is not the ops fault nor is it deserved. But we dont know why the landlord has decided to stop renting the property to her.

Tax changes? Needs to sell to pay for care? Mortgage fix ending?

Despite what the screamers tell you, no landlord wakes up one fine morning and issues a section 21 on a whim.

JacquesHammer · 30/05/2017 16:36

Your landlord sounds like quite a tit by the way - none of this sounds your fault or deserved

Why? LL bashing gets really tedious.

expatinscotland · 30/05/2017 16:37

Just hoping you get a place soon.

specialsubject · 30/05/2017 16:40

Hang on, Something odd here - the hearing was today and the possession order expires tomorrow. And the landlord has already got clearance to use the high court bailiffs.

This is a very fast timeline. As a comparison, my triple treat tenant got a month between hearing and possession order. And bailiffs of any kind cannot be booked until the possession order expires.

Op, are you being told the truth? The court costs so far will be £355 - a lot but that is a double check. Plus any solicitor fees.

witsender · 30/05/2017 16:44

The other thread has more details about his behaviour.

ExConstance · 30/05/2017 16:58

Only qualified by being a former solicitor who did some housing work years ago and an avid watcher of "can't pay we'll take it away". It was always the case that you had to wait for the bailiffs to ensure you were not treated as voluntarily homeless. Landlords often apply for high court enforcement as high court bailiffs arrive without notice and evict then and there, though you can leave stuff behind to collect within a few days. I'd agree with the advice to get the place sorted and move out all but essentials now so that you can get straight down to the housing office on the day they arrive. If you are likely to be offered something 30 miles away could you try looking in another area for a rented flat?

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