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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Being evicted

93 replies

Dontknow1234 · 07/11/2020 23:10

I have name changed for this. We are going to be evicted. I have two children one with health problems. I lost my job due to covid. Have lived here ten years. Still by starving myself paid my rent all through lockdown. Can't get a private let as now not working and have no guarantor. Landlord served me with section 21 as selling due to ill health before rules changed so section 21 runs out in four days. I have begged estate agents but they all have this rule of a guarantor. I have gone to the council. Have even been put on two waiting lists as have connections to both areas. Have bidded on everything even areas 50 miles from everyone I know to avoid temporary accommodation and bailiffs. Now the estate agent and landlord are upset with me and dont care about my situation at all. I am sorry for staying but what can I do. Why I've posted is I'm so sad. Ive gone to my MP. The council now don't even answer my calls. My fault I guess for angering them getting a MP involved. What upsets me is some of these properties have ten bids and I'm tenth as only band c and have only been on it couple months but I didn't need to be on it before. I need to go into temporary accommodation for 6 months to be a higher band. I will have to rehouse my pets of years. This will devastate us all. I've told them I will have anything. I will have a private let that will take DSS. No one not even family will help/ be a guarantor so that hurts too. That's just the way my family is though I guess. I have paid for a doctor letter and the doctor agrees with me but he said doctor letters get accused of being a opinion by the council as he's had them tell him it before for someonelse. But I done it anyway as I'm desperate. I don't even need to be band a. If I was band b I could get a house in a week as they all go to people in band c but have to be on the list for two years. I'm not asking for more help than I deserve but I don't agree with my banding. I've been told they need 16 weeks to reassess so that's after a bailiff and I doubt it will change as apparently a health condition that isn't caused by the housing situation doesn't account. No but if my child is unwell and has to leave the b and b all day that's not okay. I've told it will be a b and b. Yet I know people here who have got a house before the section 21 runs out as they have 5 children. I know someone this week who has turned down four properties as not good enough for them. These have never been advertised on the bidding. It's not really a aibu I posted here for traffic. Please be kind as my landlord has said he wants us out by Xmas and I don't get why the nastiness. It's clean, looked after rent paid and always has been but now I'm hated. I've said he can have the court costs out the deposit. I'm not a bad person or a bad tenant. Estate agent has wrote a glowing reference. Yet he told me if I'm not out by next week they have to stop being nice. Like why is what I've done that wrong. I have nowhere to go. I'm sad all the time. I feel like I've let my kids down so badly. I'm on my own and have no family support. The dog comforts ( always lies on me) me but soon he will be gone too and he will be so sad he lives for these children.

OP posts:
Dontknow1234 · 08/11/2020 00:23

So do you think know matter what he does he will be here till after the new year? Can someone try and explain the higher court process as thats what I don't understand. The council said I get two letters via the other route is that correct? Do I get a date/ letter with higher court I need to be out by?

OP posts:
Justajot · 08/11/2020 00:25

I agree that local animal rescues may be willing to foster your pets until you can take them back again. Smaller, pet specific rescues may have more flexibility to do this.

Springcatkin · 08/11/2020 00:28

I thought there was a stop on private evictions during the lockdown? Stay put as long as you can don't let their nastiness force you out before the court order / bailiffs which will take a very long time

Dontknow1234 · 08/11/2020 00:31

The dog I will pay to go into kennels but if I get temporary housing I have to stay there 6 months before my council rehouse you at least. I know the dog won't be allowed. I know he will be so sad and stop eating without the children. He's a anxious dog and won't even eat if someone is t on the room with him. He lives for children. Any children. He spends his days in the children's room. I know if he went into kennels for months he couldn't cope. I've had him since he was a pup and love him very much. He lays on me and if I'm sad he knows. I'll be lost without him and he will us. I feel so bad as he won't understand he will think I've abandoned him.

OP posts:
SheepandCow · 08/11/2020 00:33

I'm sorry I don't know much about the accelerated process. I'd assume there'd still be a delay due to backlog of cases.

Here's Shelter's info on accelerated possession.

england.shelter.org.uk/legal/possession_proceedings_and_eviction/possession_process/accelerated_possession_procedure

Sweettea1 · 08/11/2020 00:35

Am sure the council /housing association would of told you this already but DO NOT leave your house until the bailiffs come which will be awhile yet with lockdown otherwise they will say you made yourself homeless you should get notice of a day they are coming so try pack everything up b4 hand an have it in storage or in friends but don't leave once bailiffs come an evict you then go housing association an they will put you in temp accommodation untill they find a permanent home.

Sweettea1 · 08/11/2020 00:35

And tuff on the landlord you have a family to think about.

Sweettea1 · 08/11/2020 00:39

Landlord has to go court you will be given a date to be out by don't go by that date landlord the gets bailiffs they come to house to evicted you and change locks thats when you leave. And yes I would say it will be after Xmas now an yes you should get letter with date.

SheepandCow · 08/11/2020 00:40

Is it a definite that the dog won't be allowed in the temporary housing?

Things are starting to change wrt pets in rented. The Dogs and Domestic Animals Bill aims to end pet bans in tenancy agreements.

thisldo · 08/11/2020 00:41

Might be different in other areas but in the north east the courts aren't open for evictions. Government rules are no evictions during covid.

SheepandCow · 08/11/2020 00:44

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000p04p/ten-minute-rule-bill-accommodation-and-protection-for-dogs-and-domestic-animals

Not yet law but some housing providers might've already changed their stance on pets (because they know they'll have to soon enough).

Dontknow1234 · 08/11/2020 00:44

Yes temporary is b and b here/ bedsit neither will take pets. And I'm not classed as homeless until I've been in either a b and b 6 weeks which is better in regards to pets. Or bedsit which is more likely given child's health needs 6 months. And I can't go miles away as under consultants here so hopefully would be same county. As the GP keeps asking this as I have referalls all over this county in regards to specialists. But none of that counts apparently as not caused by housing.

OP posts:
Mummyoftwo91 · 08/11/2020 00:45

Hi op, I've been in a similar position, I was in temp housing but only for 56 weeks it's not as bad as you think it will be, due to having older children I was in a house by myself, run down but still a roof over our heads and the kids thought it was an adventure, I now have a lovely house and a stable roof over my kids heads and it was so worth it to get this forever home, there are horrible stories about going down the temp housing route I was told I would be there for a year and be miles away from the school and my home town but none of that was true and not all experiences are bad

Mummyoftwo91 · 08/11/2020 00:47

Also sorry just to add, I was allowed to keep my cat, I asked for permission, sounds crazy but she is my emotional support, if you speak to them they are a lot more reasonable than you would think, they also offered someone to foster her also

redastherose · 08/11/2020 00:47

@Dontknow1234 you should post this on the legal board. Some really knowledgeable solicitors hang out there who may be able to point you in the right direction for help.

Bagadverts · 08/11/2020 00:49

Follow the advice from Shelter who are independent.

Mummyoftwo91 · 08/11/2020 00:55

Justice for tenants are also amazing at giving free advice they really helped me understand my rights and went through my contract with a fine tooth comb

Dontknow1234 · 08/11/2020 00:59

@Mummyoftwo91 I think your housing assessor/ council are kinder. I've been told we don't houses pets/ your child will be unwell no matter where they live as its not caused by housing therefore we dont take it into consideration. And now I've well and truly pissed her off after I went MP and she hadn't even confirmed three months later why we have to leave. As her boss I assume emailed MP how disappointing this was that it hadn't happened as should of been done weeks ago. Now she won't talk to me. And doesn't answer estate agent so he can confirm this.

OP posts:
Christmasfairy2020 · 08/11/2020 01:44

My daughters girl guide was in exact same predicament few weeks ago literally to a tea. She was given a council house 2 bed rather than 3 but still and at last min as well

CSIblonde · 08/11/2020 02:06

To get help off Housing, you need to stay put til Bailiffs arrive. (If you leave before that they say you are intentionally homeless & won't help). Then take the letter the bailiffs give you straight to Housing, the same day. You will then get temp accommodation immediately. Ask about the private Landlord incentive scheme where they pay private landlords £1200 incentive to take benefits tenants with the proviso the housing benefit goes straight to LL. That has to be better than waiting in temp accommodation for possibly years for Council housing accomodation. I got a place thru the scheme & it's so nice I'm still there, nice area, convenient, safe etc . Many dog charities will foster your dog til your housing is sorted, just ring them

dublingirl66 · 08/11/2020 11:47

Would more than happily help with the dog I have a large farm and can temporarily help you out so you won't have to pay for kennel fees
Please consider this

Hopefully you won't need to and you can get the help you need

Whatsonmymindgrapes · 08/11/2020 12:05

Can he put it on the market with you still in it? And just be flexible with viewings? If he gets a buyer it still takes 3/4 months for completion anyway. That could buy you some time.

dublingirl66 · 08/11/2020 12:21

There are ways around this

You are not the first and def won't be the last

❤️❤️❤️❤️

user1471538283 · 08/11/2020 12:53

I agree that you need urgent advice. Your dog may be able to go with you and if the next house is a private let you could offer pet rent. I'm so sorry you are in this position.

Notthecarwashagain · 08/11/2020 12:55

movingsoon.co.uk/housing-association-properties-available-now/
www.homesdirect.org.uk/content/ImmediatelyAvailableHomes
www.derwentliving.com/find-a-home/search.html?a=search&q1=&q2=1.1&q3=1

What a horrible time for you Flowers

I went through a similar thing a few years back, and ended up moving out of my local area to a housing association house being advertised on open rent, as nobody on the housing list would accept it (needed work and was v rural) I've exchanged it since but am still away from 'home'

I'm not telling you this to boast, but to let you know to keep going. I've put some links up, not sure where you are, but keep checking them for available homes. Also your local housing associations may have ones that aren't through the bidding system too.

You must be so worried. Hang on in there! And please try not to worry about the agents or landlord's opinion of you. They're trying to evict you weeks before Christmas, in a pandemic. It's not you who should be feeling bad.

It's a shame the house can't be sold with a sitting tenant.