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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Being evicted

38 replies

Daisy1256 · 07/08/2020 00:39

Have lived here with my children nearly a decade. The only home they remember. Got served section 21. Landlord wants to sell. Our home is not ours just like that. Although have three months to get out. Just feel sad. AIBU to think this is a shitty thing to do to families at this time. Just can't help but to feel sad and then angry although I know it was never our house it was our home. So maybe IABU.
So yabu is get over yourself it's your landlords house
Yanbu it was your home for a decade it's okay to be sad.

OP posts:
HilaryBriss · 07/08/2020 00:43

It is OK to be sad, I would be, but it isnt your house and never will be so this was always likely to happen at some point.

19lottie82 · 07/08/2020 00:44

While this is a risk that comes with private renting, you have every right to be sad, I would be too.

Sparklesocks · 07/08/2020 00:45

I would be sad too. It may not be your house but it is your home.

Spanglebangle · 07/08/2020 00:47

I would say both. It is definitely ok to feel sad but it is your landlords property, you must've known this could happen.
Also I am very sorry this is happening to you, it sucks.

ThePants999 · 07/08/2020 00:48

Please bear in mind that if you want/need it, you have a lot more than three months to leave. You do not have to leave when the section 21 expires - that's simply when the landlord can begin the court eviction process, which with the current backlog will take approximately forever.

Original poster
Daisy1256 · 07/08/2020 00:57

To the people that said i am being unreasonable I know in a way I am. I will get out obviously. I just can't help but feel sad I guess. Plus I'm currently unemployed covid related and have pets so not straight forward as in I'm going to get another property with ease. I know that's not the landlords problem and was nice enough to let us have the pets here. I guess I'm just still shocked and upset. Thanks to the supportive messages. The heart feels what it feels I guess.

OP posts:
SisyphusAndTheRockOfUntidiness · 07/08/2020 00:59

This exact thing happened to us not long ago. We were in ours over a decade as well. DD found it very unsettling.

Speak to local estate agents etc to try to find alternative accommodation.
Speak to your local housing officer at the council & let them know you're at risk of homelessness. Obviously this is a last resort but it's good to get the ball rolling.
If you have a Citizens Advice locally, contact them.
Don't bury your head in the sand. Keep in touch with your letting agent & let them know if / when you get something/if you can't.

We were given a lot longer than the initial notice period as we couldn't get anywhere (crap employment situation). Also, the owner didn't get a sale very quickly. We were then briefly homeless but managed to get a secure HA tenancy which has turned out really well. As you've got DCs, depending on housing stock locally & your willingness to move, it's worth a look? Obviously private renting is easier to obtain if you can afford it.

tankflybos · 07/08/2020 01:03

"Please bear in mind that if you want/need it, you have a lot more than three months to leave. You do not have to leave when the section 21 expires"

And kiss goodbye to a reference just to add to the issues of having pets etc. Great plan Hmm

rosesandcashmere · 07/08/2020 01:04

It's ok to be sad, but 3 months is generous. They may need to sell for their own reasons. Best of luck

Original poster
Daisy1256 · 07/08/2020 01:08

I can afford private renting and have a decade long history/reference of paying rent on time. But no-one will take me so far without a guarantor as not working and I don't have one that makes enough. They won't take two. Will try council and just keep looking for a private. Just seems so unreal we won't live here I guess. I know that's the risk with renting but not many rent through choice.

OP posts:
Original poster
Daisy1256 · 07/08/2020 01:11

I read the council make you stay longer until the bailiffs come. Is this true? I wouldn't want to let that happen as then private won't touch me again and more importantly no one wants that to occur Infront their children.

OP posts:
Pixxie7 · 07/08/2020 01:49

Obviously the landlord has aright to sell, but the timing could have been better.

Butterer · 07/08/2020 01:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

happy97 · 07/08/2020 01:54

@rosesandcashmere

It's ok to be sad, but 3 months is generous. They may need to sell for their own reasons. Best of luck
It's not generous, it's the law! They're hardly doing the OP a favour.

OP, I've been where you are 3 times. Currently going through it again and it's shit!

Fatted · 07/08/2020 02:09

I hope it works out for you OP.

We had the same thing happen to us last year. We got very bitter with the landlord about it all, she told us she was splitting up with hubby and needed to move back in. We did her lots of favours, left white goods for her to use (we replaced anyway, but we could have sold them ourselves and got the money) and actually left earlier than our notice period so she could 'move in' sooner to name a few. Of course, it went up for sale the second we handed over the keys. I'm so angry that we actually felt sorry for her having to move back into her old house.

GivenchyDahhling · 07/08/2020 02:19

@Butterer Those sort of fees are now banned (www.gov.uk/government/collections/tenant-fees-act) so I would advise your friend to contact the landlord and ask for a refund of all these additional fees paid.

Iloveyoutothefridgeandback · 07/08/2020 02:25

I have never owned my own home. I've always rented as we move around so much for work.

The places where we have been especially happy are always hard to leave. In particular our last home in the UK before we emigrated was very hard to say goodbye to. It wasn't "mine" but it really was our home and we had so many happy memories. I cried my eyes out as we handed the keys over. I probably could cry now if I thought about it for long enough.

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/08/2020 02:30

@ThePants999

Please bear in mind that if you want/need it, you have a lot more than three months to leave. You do not have to leave when the section 21 expires - that's simply when the landlord can begin the court eviction process, which with the current backlog will take approximately forever.
This is a shitty response.

I work for a social landlord and I have been an accidental private landlord and I wish both landlords and tenants would respect the law without enforcement being necessary. Enforcement is meant for abnormal cases, not every single tenant who doesn't want to move and every landlord who doesn't want to repair/check/do what they're supposed to do. It's crappy for landlords to not do what they are supposed to. But it is also crappy when tenants force landlords to spend money and time enforcing what is the contract.

In this case it's incredibly sad. But I suppose the landlord may have a reason they have to sell now, rather than waiting.

Ohnonononononono · 07/08/2020 02:30

[quote GivenchyDahhling]@Butterer Those sort of fees are now banned (www.gov.uk/government/collections/tenant-fees-act) so I would advise your friend to contact the landlord and ask for a refund of all these additional fees paid.[/quote]
It isn't a fee, and it's legal - it's become a lot more commonplace since the Tenants Fees Bill was brought in.

www.creditladder.co.uk/blog/can-a-letting-agent-or-landlord-charge-my-pet-rent

www.theguardian.com/money/2019/sep/03/landlords-pet-rent-ban-unfair-fees

Yankathebear · 07/08/2020 02:35

I was in your situation almost ten years ago. It’s horrible, as you say it’s your home even if it’s not your house.
I ended up in shitty accommodation for a year but ended up in my dream home. It’s still rented but it’s so lovely. I’ve been here for almost 9 years and think that maybe our old landlord selling was a good thing. I would never be where I was now if he hadn’t.

Mintjulia · 07/08/2020 02:37

So Sorry that is happening. You have every right to be sad.

You don’t know why the LL is selling, he may be in urgent need of funds, redundant, retiring etc. And he has every right to sell.

But that doesn’t alter the fact that you are losing your home.

Homeowners being made redundant are facing the same thing. It isn’t only tenants. It’s not fun for anyone.

slipperywhensparticus · 07/08/2020 02:44

Can you move area fir a fresh start not ideal but for a council house moving anywhere is a bonus

There is a website to find council houses

slipperywhensparticus · 07/08/2020 02:46

Homes direct!

Anordinarymum · 07/08/2020 03:52

@Daisy1256

Have lived here with my children nearly a decade. The only home they remember. Got served section 21. Landlord wants to sell. Our home is not ours just like that. Although have three months to get out. Just feel sad. AIBU to think this is a shitty thing to do to families at this time. Just can't help but to feel sad and then angry although I know it was never our house it was our home. So maybe IABU. So yabu is get over yourself it's your landlords house Yanbu it was your home for a decade it's okay to be sad.
Just a thought.. if you have lived there all those years then you must have been a good tenant. Are you on good terms with the landlord? If so could he not sell with a tenant in the property?
hammie46i · 07/08/2020 04:25

@ThePants999

Please bear in mind that if you want/need it, you have a lot more than three months to leave. You do not have to leave when the section 21 expires - that's simply when the landlord can begin the court eviction process, which with the current backlog will take approximately forever.
But what about if OP needs a reference for her next place. Might not be a good idea.