to be worried to be homeless…?

[Divorcedalongtime]

I’m renting privately, work, have 3 teens and receive universal credit.
I live in the expensive south east near London and yesterday I received an email from my landlady that she is forced to sell and will I want 1 or 2 months notice.

im in a really bad position to get somewhere else. No one accepts benefits and the ones that do are still far above what the rate of LHA is.
my eldest is almost 18 and is likely to move in with his gf (her dads place) if we have to move away from here and he also has a job here.
I too have work locally otherwise I have no problem moving away personally.

in my mind I’m thinking I’m going to have to buy a motor home or similar as I just can’t see a way of finding somewhere to live.

downsizing isn’t really an option because even if we could all co sleep (yeah probably not realistically) no one would rent a 1 bedroom house to 4 people.

I’ve contacted the council and it seems they can possibly help with the guarantor or deposit if I do find something .

please don’t tell me i should have prepared myself for this. I have been the sole provider for my children for over 10 years and I’ve never had any day of saving up for a deposit and housebuying.

For starters, your landlord doesn't get a say in how much notice you get.

The law for Assured Shorthold Tenants is 2 months notice (if using s21) and then there are technical requirements that they have to adhere to in order that the notice is valid. Next they have to apply for a possession order and then a baliff's warrant so rotten as it is, you do have quite a bit of time before you have to leave.

Check out Shelter's website so you know your rights as an AST so that you have as much time in the property as possible - to give you more time to find alternative housing.

Keep in touch with your local council's housing options in the meantime.

I’m sorry to read this Op. Firstly, if your landlady wants the tenancy to end, she needs to have issued you with a correctly filled out section 21 notice on form 6a. This gives 2 months notice, the expiry date just means that this is the first date that the landlady can apply to the court to start the lengthy eviction process, it does not mean that you have to leave the property on this date. A landlord can not end a tenancy themselves, only you or a judge in court using bailiffs can legally end a tenancy. Just an email telling you she is selling is not correct legal notice.

Has she protected your deposit in a government scheme and do you have a current gas safe check certificate? Please start with Shelter, you can call them or use their online chat function. Just because the landlady wants to sell the property, doesn’t change your legal rights as a tenant in any way. Don’t take any advice from your landlady as she will only present you with information that she wants you to know that will go in her favour vs your true legal tenant rights that Shelter will advise you. Best of luck x

Please don't tell your landlady what she needs to do either- in terms of correct notice/ protected deposit/ renting guide/ EPC/ gas cert. If you do then some councils will take that as you making yourself intentionally homeless. It's a shitty situation but as the landlord she should know the correct steps. X

Thank you all for reassuring me. I will chat with shelter.