To think I will be homeless in 6 months

[JulietteLeGall]

I have just been told my landlords are selling the house I have been renting for 6 years.

For complicated, and outing, reasons, I pay considerably less rent per month than the market value.

I’m priced out of the private rental market so my only option is local authority housing. I have been told I am entitled to a four bedroom property. I can’t see what properties are available yet because my application is waiting to be assessed.

There aren’t going to any, are there? The person I spoke with on the phone said I will be waiting years. I’m in a desirable area in the South West with limited social housing. The properties that do come up tend to be ‘swapped’ and so never get put back in the ‘pool’. Most social housing has been bought privately.

What am I going to do?! I’m terrified.

You children are 8,11 and 14 - is that right? Council rules are that children of the same sex under 16 can share. So even if you have both sexes, 2 of your children will be deemed ok to share which means at most you will be entitled to a 3 bed house. 3 beds are a lot more common than 4 bed. So you would be prudent to look at those a rather than holding out for a 4 bed which is needed by people with 5 or 6 kids.

Yes we have a support worker, I might speak to them actually. I haven’t spoken to her in a while, she made contact after an A&E admission then put us on to some other services but I’m sure I can dig the number out? Do you think they could help?

@mummycanihaveadrink

If you searched my posts, there will be numerous deliberate inconsistencies to ensure I remain fairly anonymous.

Surely, this is what every other poster does on here? 🤦🏻‍♀️

BrieAndChilli They are older now, I wonder if because my eldest will be nearly 16 by the time we will be evicted is why I was told this. I was also told I will be able to bid for 3 beds so I don’t think it will make a difference but I will check.

Aren’t you studying OP? Could you get a letter from uni to help your case?

@Someone1987

Would you prefer to see the disabled or ill living on the streets? What about widows and widowers plunged into poverty because of the death of their partner? Should they go live on the streets too?

We are lucky enough to live in a developed country which provides help for those who need it, however that help is limited and every year it gets cut back more and more. That's why the OP is stuck in a situation were she doesnt really have much choice and will have to just look for areas she can afford the private rent. She cant stay where she is so it's not like the councils are just handing out whatever people ask for, which is how you seem to view it.

Maybe direct your anger towards the massive wastage of tax payers money on frivolous things and the refusal to properly tax cooperations.

OP, if you really dont want to leave your town or county to look for private rentals you can afford, would you be willing to move around your area. Have you had a good look all around (including different school catchments) for anything you could afford. You could look for 2 beds with a dining room as well, that would give you 3 bedrooms.

I am, but I’m not sure how that will help?

Are you saying the landlord wants to give you notice (section 21)?
Even under normal times it takes about 6 months - at the moment it will take a lot longer.
I am not suggesting that you are - but please make sure you pay your rent on time & in full otherwise you can be seen as having made yourself homeless & you won't be put on the list. From what I know you have to receive notice from your landlord before you can even get near the waiting list & usually the council will require the landlord to employ bailiffs with an exact date of when they will evict before they offer you emergency accommodation - you wont be without a roof under these circumstances op & while this is very far from what you want it is something. You have mentioned your health op - have you a doctor or therapist or nurse or social worker who could give supporting evidence of your needs?
Check as pp have mentioned about the rules of accepting or whether you can refuse offers & how long you might have to wait. However, if there isn't much social housing locally & the private rentals are above the Local HB level I am afraid you will have to be realistic but as others have said you might find that there may be advantages to moving & do not forget social housing is more stable.

It will be hard but if you want to have your baby, then you should look into what benefits you might be entitled to. Where do you live now? How do you pay bills and buy food?

But whatever you decide, you must ditch your terrible partner.

WhereverIGoddamnLike because I am on UC I’m struggling to find a letting agency to put me on their books. In the current climate they can be picky, shortage of rentals and lots of tenants to choose from.

OP:

Yes - doctors note specifying exactly what your medical needs are. Especially any support you need that’s currently in your area.
Paper work from all agencies (you mentioned there are other agencies involved in some shape or form?)
Essentially the paperwork needs to lay out your needs, your children’s needs and the support network currently in place. This could either bump you up a category as you may be deemed more vulnerable, or it could give you a higher priority then others at local properties as they appear.

That band 1 sounds right. My dad was a housing officer and my friend currently is one (though sorry Op not south west). Not many are in band one in the grand scheme of it all - it’s for people who need a home change immediately as they are in danger, be it an adult or the children. Some people will be bumped into top position in extreme circumstances - for example people evicted from council homes due to demolition will get jumped to the top at the last minute, people over occupying (eg a couple sitting in a 3 bed home who’s children have grown up) will often get put right at the top in order to free up the larger homes.

Tomorrow OP, start getting your ducks in a row. Start making medical appointments to get the paperwork and evidence you need. It may be worth speaking to the children’s school to get any supporting paper work from them (for example if they are receiving extra support). You need to speak to someone else at the council or Shelter and understand exactly what your options are, establish what Band 2 requirements are (as it sounds like you won’t get into band 1)
Obviously you are still waiting for acceptance so won’t be in a position to bid or anything yet. If you are approved and given the go ahead to bid, make sure you do! And see if you can bid for 3 beds and 4 to improve your chances.

Moving area is likely but this doesn’t mean hundreds of miles away OP. Seeing people I know around here I know who have entered the social housing system (mostly younger mums on their own) a lot of them ended up being placed within a few miles of here. So maybe not exactly the same town but only one or two towns along. And they’ve managed to them bid their way back with two or three years. And this is the south east, so it’s not all hunky dory down here. It’s not all gloom.

Mumwon and bananaskinsnomnom, thank you x I will definitely do this tomorrow, it will really help to just feel like I am doing something productive anyway even if it doesn’t amount to anything

Good luck with everything

Sorry OP my post above was for a different thread.

There is a 3 bedroom flat in my area for £750, long term let. Would this be affordable for you?

mummycanihaveadrink

I left my abusive husband. There have been a couple of threads that I have posted retrospectively to get clarity in some situations I was in. I’m in therapy so some things crop up that I try to make sense of. I hope that helps

Where are you tinty?

I work for a LA.
If you approach your LA as 'threatened with homelessness' they will most likely try to prevent the eviction (you will be expected to go through the full section 21 process, and stay in the property up until bailiffs arrive - otherwise you could be classed as intentionally homeless, it usually takes a good while). Landlord may also struggle to sell with a sitting tenant who is fighting eviction! If it goes through, you may be entitled to temporary accommodation which is quite often horrible while on the waiting list for a council place. And in my area of London there's a 10year+ wait on a 3bed. Most people accept the horrible TA because they know when get more housing points in TA so one day they might get council. But I have always thought if it were me, I'd do my upmost to find private rented so I can avoid a new location and all the problems (often problem neighbours!) that come with TA. Wishing you all the best!

Side note: we send temporary accommodation tenants quite far afield. Including the north of England. Very v rarely in the immediate area due to stock and demand, there just isn't anywhere to put people

@JulietteLeGall

I have just been told my landlords are selling the house I have been renting for 6 years.

For complicated, and outing, reasons, I pay considerably less rent per month than the market value.

I’m priced out of the private rental market so my only option is local authority housing. I have been told I am entitled to a four bedroom property. I can’t see what properties are available yet because my application is waiting to be assessed.

There aren’t going to any, are there? The person I spoke with on the phone said I will be waiting years. I’m in a desirable area in the South West with limited social housing. The properties that do come up tend to be ‘swapped’ and so never get put back in the ‘pool’. Most social housing has been bought privately.

What am I going to do?! I’m terrified.

Just Dm'd you

If you’re prepared to move to the south-east there are some 3 bed properties on rightmove at a maximum of £800 - one on the IOW is a 3 bed house, it looks lovely!

East Devon

@JulietteLeGall

mummycanihaveadrink

I left my abusive husband. There have been a couple of threads that I have posted retrospectively to get clarity in some situations I was in. I’m in therapy so some things crop up that I try to make sense of. I hope that helps

Ok thanks for clearing that up and sorry to hear that

Can’t believe some of the replies suggesting OP should move miles away to a cheaper area, why would she want to move her family after all she’s been through? I’m guessing she has support from family and friends locally? The kids attend schools?

I’m in the SW and managed to get a 3 bed HA house, I had to fight hard for it and had to move the kids from their local primary school. It was worth it though and we didn’t move far. I think here a child over 14 is classed as needing their own room? Not all areas are the same. I’m not sure what area you are in but where I am a lot of houses are being built and some will be HA (2,3 and 4 bed). 4 beds are hard to get but a larger 3 bed could be fine?

Chances are they won’t move you from band 3 until you have been evicted.