Housing Eviction

[WaferThinIce]

I realise this isn't the right place but am hoping to get some information or guidance as soon as possible. Friends (genuinely friends and not me) have been given an eviction notice as their landlord is selling their home. They, so far, haven't been able to find other suitable accommodation. They either can't afford it or they miss out because they come second. It's a family of three adults, parent and 2 children, and one older teenager, plus dog. As the end of their notice period comes ever closer and they still haven't secured a place they are getting very worried and stressed. Does anyone know what they can do if they haven't found another home. Will they be turned out onto the street or what might happen? Will there be an obligation on the local council to offer them temporary accommodation. They have looked not just where they currently live but also nearby towns and there's just nothing available.
Thank you

[quote girl71]@Drgnbllx i can answer the question . I bought my own home in the early 90's, having worked 2 consecutive jobs in the late 80's and early 90's to save a deposit. I left home at 18 and rented a studio flat , due to my dad repeatedly beating me up . I worked 8.30
am -9pm 5 days a week for 3 yrs. My main job was 8-30 to 5.30 my second job was 6pm-9pm. I bought my first flat in 1994, i married in 98
and used my equity to but a family home. Then i planned my children. I had first DC in 2000 and second DC in 2006. I worked full time. I am now divorced. I lost all my money in my divorce so i started again and rebuilt my finances. I am
now financially stable again and own my own 4 bed detached house in a rural location with half acre garden. [/quote]
Thanks for your life story, but how does that help the tenants in the OP?

In many areas, unless you inherit a tenancy (which I don't agree with, FWIW) you're realistically only going to be able to get social housing if you're disabled, a single parent and on benefits, or homeless.

In some areas London but some others also you don't get social housing even if you any of those. Am disabled and legally homeless cos domestic violence. Some councils break the law and get away with it cos when you vulnerable you can't fight them. People admitting on this thread what I experienced that private landlords don't want you if you on low income especially benefits and no guarantor. I had people on other threads when I've posted about my situation tell me I'm making excuses why couldn't leave violent partner and why went back after refuge. Wish people realised the housing situation is one big reason why so many women killed by domestic violence.

@Drgnbllx Thanks for your life story, but how does that help the tenants in the OP?

You tell me? I have suggested hard work, sacrifice and responsible family planning. What do you suggest? You have said suggested sod all so far.

Family planning after the children have been born is usually pointless IME.

[quote girl71]@Drgnbllx Thanks for your life story, but how does that help the tenants in the OP?

You tell me? I have suggested hard work, sacrifice and responsible family planning. What do you suggest? You have said suggested sod all so far. [/quote]
There's no reason to suppose these people have been irresponsible.

Even if they have been, your suggestion amounts to time travel.

[quote girl71]"@walksen This is a risk the landlord should have educated themselves about before entering the business of renting out their house".

Or perhaps we should educate renter's that they need to leave a house that is not theirs when notice is served. Perhaps we should be encouraging and educating renters to consider how they will house themselves and their families based on their incomes, rather than push back onto Landlords. Perhaps we should educate people that landlords are not charities. Rather than expecting landlords them to let live in their properties for peanuts /free/ wait to be evicted. Perhaps we should remind people that landlords have mortgages, and that housing has to be paid for and paying rent is not optional. Perhaps we should educate people that when you have been served notice to leave, you should leave. It is NOT your house, you need to leave. How you house yourself and your family is your issue not the landlord's . [/quote]
Seriously you have no idea whatsoever.

Most people don’t CHOOSE to rent privately. It’s practically impossible for people on a low income to get on the housing ladder these days, and there simply aren’t any council houses. How is ‘encouraging and educating’ renters going to help with that?! Private rents have doubled in the past 7 or 8 years where I live, and due to nobody being able to buy or rent from the council the demand is absolutely insane. It doesn’t surprised me at all that the OP’s friends are struggling. It’s a horrible situation to be in. Perhaps what we should be reminding people is that yes the landlords might own the properties, but they are the tenants’ HOMES. Because if private rental is someone’s only option, are you suggesting they shouldn’t be entitled to a home?

And, unless a LL has made it very clear at the beginning of the tenancy that they will be requiring the property back within a certain timescale, they need to be respectful of the fact they are depriving a family of their home, putting them under huge pressure, and giving them no option but to outstay their welcome. If their BUSINESS fails, why should their tenants suffer?!

"@Rosebel And what about those of us who couldn't buy a house in the 90s. I didn't leave school until 2000.
You were able to work 2 jobs, you were able to work full time. Excellent.
Except with a young baby and a child with disabilities and another who needs regular hospital visits I don't have that option.
Maybe just consider that not everyone has it as easy as you.
If I could go back to the 80s or 90s and buy a house while still at school I would".

You could have worked 2 jobs if you didn't have a baby. You chose to have a baby and further children. I chose to work 2 jobs and buying my home before having a baby. My eldest son was born in 2000, the same yr you left sch . He started an apprenticeship 2 yrs ago in 2019 and has just bought his first flat. His choices and my choices are not your choices. All of our choices do not give us the right to remain in a property that is not ours and when notice to quit has been served.

No, but the law does give people the right to remain where they are until enforcement. Not their choices, the law.

@lannistunut Family planning after the children have been born is usually pointless IME.

Agree. Therefore you cannot expect others to house you and yr unplanned children.

[quote girl71]@Drgnbllx Thanks for your life story, but how does that help the tenants in the OP?

You tell me? I have suggested hard work, sacrifice and responsible family planning. What do you suggest? You have said suggested sod all so far. [/quote]
This family are facing homelessness in the relatively near future, I don't see how some vague spiel about hard work will help them now. The only options I see for them are staying put and living on the street.

Do you have any actual practical suggestions or are you just here to brag about how better you are for pulling yourself up by your bootstrap.

@girl71 imagine your friend didnt have a house she owned to get back and had been given notice to leave. What would she of done if she hadnt managed to find another property to rent? Moved out onto the street at the landlords convenience?
Or would she of taken the local councils advice which would be to stay put until the bailiffs arrive?

This happend to someone who lives near us. Could they contact the owners to ask them to market the property as "an ideal investment property with good reliable long term tenants in"?

That worked here and may be an option if investors are interested.

But I second speaking to shelter they're amazing

This thread is about a family who legally have been served notice to quit. They need to to now quit the property. It is not their property. The fact they cannot now afford to house themselves is not the concern of the landlord.

I am sorry this sounds cruel but landlords are not social housing. They will no doubt wait and be evicted , at great expense to the land lord . We all have to pay for our housing. We all have to cut our cloth accordingly. Personal responsibility is key here however unsavoury that sounds. To have a dog in the mix is also irresponsible when you are in insecure housing. .

They need to to now quit the property.

And go where?

@girl71 aren't you all heart? I posted a long reply but I deleted it because I can't be arsed with your 'everyone just needs to work harder' attitude when the housing market is out of control and there is a lack of affordable housing.

@myheartskippedabeat

This happend to someone who lives near us. Could they contact the owners to ask them to market the property as "an ideal investment property with good reliable long term tenants in"?

That worked here and may be an option if investors are interested.

But I second speaking to shelter they're amazing

This is a good suggestion, OP. If the LLs are looking to sell, then the rental market with sitting tenants might be an option. It usually means a slight reduction in price, but also will cost less in legal fees and hassle/time. Worth a try.

I answered that. I am still waiting for your response

I must have missed it, which post was it?

Feel free to offer the op some practical advice. I am sure you have much experience in being evicted.

Not sure what I've said that would make you believe that.

I'm going to say this again for the benefit of those who don't understand Housing Law. I do understand Housing Law because I worked as a homeless officer for donkey's years.
Tenants are entitled to be treated according to the law and that means, amongst other things, that they are entitled to await a court order if the landlord has served a notice. The notice has to be correct, the landlord cannot harass the tenant to leave without either serving a correct notice or without obtaining a PO. The landlord cannot ask them daily what plans they have to leave or try to force them out. THAT IS THE LAW. Nothing else matters.
Any landlord should acquaint themselves with the appropriate legislation and adhere to it, otherwise they could well be committing various offences and could find themselves in court, and from my experience the courts take a very dim view of landlords who don't keep to the rules.
If the tenant hopes to be housed by a local authority then they should not move out until advised to do so by the caseworker at the LA. Nothing that anyone says on here should encourage them to do other than that as it could result in the tenant being found to be intentionally homeless. I don't see that anyone is qualified or experienced in homeless legislation/Housing Law to offer that advice.
I fail to understand how the tenant's personal life, how many children she has etc is any-one else's business We, none of us, know any other person's full history and I find it insulting to act as though we do.
If people want to give advice on this matter sticking to facts might be better.
If you have about social housing then fine, clearly I think it should exist and that people should not be made to feel guilty because they prefer that option.
As I said on another thread as far as I am concerned we have a rubbish system in this country, far too expensive housing that is out of the reach of most and too little social housing. And, as far, as I am concerned we need to scarp assured shorthold tenancies and bring back protected tenancies. But that is another matter.

[quote girl71]@lannistunut Family planning after the children have been born is usually pointless IME.

Agree. Therefore you cannot expect others to house you and yr unplanned children. [/quote]
You're very funny