Tenants or landlords who have faced home being demolished (posting here for traffic)

[CheekyMonkey242]

Posting here for traffic...

I’ll try and keep this short and sweet but if not I do apologise!

I’m a private renter and have been for the last two years. I live in a small village where properties are hard to come by and at a reasonable price too, it took me nearly a year to find the property that I’m in now. I was quite lucky enough to get it quite cheap as my landlady is a family friend, I didn’t even have to pay a deposit or credit checks, just the rent every month so it has been affordable and manageable as I live on my own so there is only one income coming in.

Anyway my flat is next to a dual carriageway and to get into the village you have to come through a roundabout. The government have now decided they want to remove this roundabout and another one in the next village to make it a more safer road and build a slip road with a bridge. As a result of this my flat and the other 15 flats in the block are set to be demolished. Although it has been in consultation for the last year and there were 4 other options which didn’t include demolishing these homes the government have still decided on this option instead, which turns out to be the most costly and causes the most damage.

There is actually an empty council building just down the road which was on one of the options however as it’s a listed building they don’t want to knock it down.

The next consultation is tomorrow which I’ll be attending (on my birthday, happy birthday to me!) and the final decision is set to be made in January 2020 which means my neighbours and I have to sit in limbo waiting for another 7 months. The block consists of council houses, privately rented etc and most of us have been in touch with the council which up until this point were unaware of the plans.

We have all been told we will be rehoused as the government will effectively be making us homeless however they cannot guarantee it will be in the village as like I mentioned before properties are hard to come by and there are not 16 properties available here. There is also the matter of finding us affordable housing as well. Of course people who own the properties such as my landlady will be compensated and people with children will be prioritised (which rightfully they should) however there doesn’t seem to be much help for young working people such as myself.

What this means is I’ll probably have to find a property through an estate agent which will cost me an arm and a leg and I will possibly struggle financially as I’ll have all the extra added costs such as a depot, credit checks etc. I also cannot move back in with my parents as there is a lack of space now and quite frankly I don’t see why I should have to after being independent the last two years and working 50 hours a week to keep this flat.

I’ve tried researching online however I can’t find much information and I just wanted to see if there were any tenants or landlords who have been in the same situation and what happened in the end in regards to rehousing/compensation etc? If you were a tenant in this situation, were you compensated for the upheaval, moving costs etc?

I feel gutted! My poor neighbours have just paid their mortgage off last year after 25 years and are now set to be thrown out with the rest of us!

Just looking for advice as when I emailed the government about it all they didn’t seem to have any answers.
TIA and sorry for rambling on x

Nobody been in the same situation before? Lol

The block of flats I was living in when I was in my 20s was condemned. They didn't end up knocking it down (I think something shady went on TBH), but they condemned it and we all had to move out. I wasn't aware of any help for me as a private renter, and depressingly, I don't think it's likely. Private rents end unpredictably quite often.

I think as a private renter you have to accept that as much as you like where you live, it’s not a permanent home and you may have to move at any time. I know it sucks, rented for twelve years myself. But it’s just how it goes. Sounds like you’ve been really lucky so far to find this flat and skip the fees/pay an affordable rate, a luxury most renters don’t have! I’d start thinking seriously about whether you can afford to live in the village you’re in and considering moving to a more affordable area. There are tonnes of places I couldn’t have afforded to live in while renting.

You have had quite a lot of notice to save up for the costs of moving/deposit etc in another flat, which is good as most people only get three months notice. If you can’t afford to save up for moving in all that time I think it reinforces my suspicion that you’re living in an area that is out of your means and once you move out from this property you’re going to have to find somewhere you can afford.

Unfortunately there’s nothing you can do. At least you have been able to afford to live in the nice village for a couple of years which I guess you wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.

Try and see it as an opportunity, look round to find somewhere else you want to live (presumably there are other towns nearby). I think you need to draw a line under this and move forward, tenancies end all the time for all sorts of reasons

I don’t see how/why you’d be given any help btw when you’re renting, it’s the nature of renting that you’re there short term and can be asked to leave with notice at any point. As far as the law is concerned I’d have thought you’ll be given notice like any tenant and have to find somewhere else under your own steam just like if your landlady has decided to sell up. You’ve had a lot of notice to figure out another option thankfully so you’re in a good position but I wouldn’t hold out hope someone is gonna come along and give you a hand in finding another property, nobody else gets that privately renting. I’m surprised they’ve agreed to rehouse you all (in council homes I assume?) but bear in mind it’ll probably be out of the area if demand outstrips supply and you won’t really be able to pick and choose so could end up somewhere really grotty. I’d just crack on now yourself instead of sitting around with this stress ongoing.

Thank you for all your replies, my suspicions were correct. I didn’t think I’d be entitled to any help.

A few notes though which I should have put in the first post was I have lived in this village my entire life, only one other home which was my parents home and maybe a part of me is being stubborn and feels I shouldn’t have to leave the village.

Pretty much all the other tenants have said they don’t mind being rehoused but only in the village. I’m hoping it becomes so difficult they just change their mind anyway and go with another option. I know a few lawyers have been involved already.

Anyway thanks again for your comments x

Due to them making us all homeless that’s why they would have to rehouse so I’ve been told. Some of the flats are occupied by retired people, some with children etc.

I do have some savings put away and I will keep on saving money every month as much as I can after bills etc. I don’t want to jump the gun and move out and then be told next year they’ve changed their minds. It’s hard to know what to do for the best .

If you’re saving then I’d just keep going with that and wait it out, so that when you get the nod you have to move out you’re financially ready to do so. I get why someone would want to remain in the area they’ve grown up in but it’s just not feasible for most, unfortunately, especially if you happened to be born in an area with high cost of living and few employment opportunities. People move away all the time to places that fit better with their budget and ambitions, it’s a normal part of life :)

I’ve had some good news at least, I’ve been to the consultation today and they’ve said I’ll be compensated if I have to move. It probably won’t be very much (their in talks with legal teams) but at least it’ll be money towards a deposit for somewhere else!