Faced eviction, can't cope

[LoveMeBunnees]

After 26 yrs, my private landlord wants me out few days before xmas (Section 21 issued 22nd October). I have pets since I cannot have children. I don't have anywhere else to go & my elderly parents don't have room cos they sleep separately in their 2 bed house. C.A.B told me to stay put & landlord has to go court to get an order which could take months. But I'm scared of bailiffs knocking on my door even if I've been paying rent every month without fail, not one month was late/missing. Trouble is, I've stripped most wallpaper off in every room, got new stuff, new flooring, new wallpaper, paint, carpet for stairs - all ready to put down after New Year, most rooms are a mess with everything getting moved around. I don't know where to start to get sorted & leave my home, the list is long & horrendous. I don't have any friends, I'm the only child & can't ask my parents as they're in their 80's (I'm 53). Where do I start, what should I do to get moving along? Thought of moving is filling me with dread. Any info please. I'm getting rid of stuff to charity shops so that's for starters.

Did you move into your house after February 1997? I’m assuming so but wanted to check. I’d speak to Shelter https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help/helpline you don’t have to leave immediately and given you’ve been there for 26years it is very unlikely you need to do anything to out the house in order (your landlord is unlikely to be able to get you to redecorate or pay to redecorate etc if it hadn’t been done by them during the period you’ve lived there). If your landlord has messed up in anyway the notice might not be valid (is your deposit in a registered scheme, have you been issued with the Renter’s Rights booklet, are gas and electric checks completed) and they could buy you more time, or even push things beyond when s21 become invalid!

Where abouts are you in the country OP?

@Enterthewolves why would it make a difference if before February 1997 …

Because before that if appropriate notice was t served it is an assured tenancy and a s21 can’t be used

@EnterthewolvesThank you

Is the landlord aware that you were planning to undertake all this redecorating? I’m not sure why you were planning on spending so much of your own money on this, or why you have stripped the wallpaper in every room if you’re not planning to do the work for some months? It all sounds very difficult.

It’s their property. Move out

It's her home. She doesn't have to move out until she has somewhere to move to.

This is going to sound obvious, but have you started putting in applications for new places to live? You mention clearing clutter and your parent’s home status, but not actually looking at listings.

OP do NOT move out voluntarily in December. You are not obliged to leave legally or morally just because they served notice. You will not get bailiffs turning up until you have an eviction date which will not be for months - and you'll know the date in advance so you will be out by then. Get on the council website and make a homeless application. Get on gumtree and Rightmove and all other sites where private rentals are advertised and apply for everything within your price range. If you can get a new private rental then all to the good, if not, the council will house you in emergency accommodation. You'll need to look into foster care for your animals if you can't find a rental to take them initially. It's stressful and horrible but you won't be out on the street. What's your employment situation?

Anything you bought to redecorate, return it. Talk to the landlord about whether or not you need to bother restoring what you have removed. If yes, do it as simply as possible.

You do not need to move yet. You’ve probably got at least 6 to 8 months before the issue becomes pressing.
If they want you to move before then ask them to pay for your month in advance and your first months rent and your Removal costs all of which will be cheaper than taking you to court.
And you’ll be needing an excellent reference too

She doesn't need to restore anything. After 26 years the landlord can't charge her for anything so she can leave it exactly as it is.

Shelter were brilliant with us as recommended earlier by other poster. You sound very overwhelmed. It’s the unexpected hitting you so be kind on yourself. Make the call to Shelter. Take it from there and then start with list making. You’re not on your own.

This sounds very overwhelming - I found it hard to leave a home after only 7 years!
I found that taking anti-anxiety medication really helped me stay calm - perhaps see your GP?
Try to see this as a fresh start - you may find somewhere nicer to call your new home!

But I wouldn’t try to cause trouble for this landlord - presumably you’ve had a good relationship for a long time. They may need to sell the property.
so I wouldn’t delay things.
Get going searching for a new home, hopefully you will be able to find something decent soon!
Wishing you all the best for your new beginning.

Like previous posters have said take advice from Shelter and stay put. You have rights too.

Don't make yourself homeless. And reach out for some IRL support for your anxiety. Best of luck OP.

Sorry if I'm missing something but why can't you just rent somewhere else?

She hasn't been squatting there. She's been paying them rent. It's a business transaction...they didn't let her live there out of the kindness of their hearts.

And her landlord is not obliged to give a reference in that case.

Don’t worry about redecorating OP, just explain and I’m sure your landlord will understand and just be happy to keep it all amicable. Ask your parents to house your pets temporarily, sometime next year your new landlord won’t be able to refuse them so I’d prioritise getting a new home then introduce the pets.

Yes they do have to move out, wtf??!! The landlord wants it back. It's their house.

This is a bit cold and heartless isn’t it?

You can tell who are the private landlords in this post

It’s not us vs them you know. Landlords are always portrayed as evil villains, you’re doing the OP no favours by telling her DO NOT MOVE. She should be house hunting and planning to leave if at all possible

I’m private Landlord and if I’ve had 26 years of rent out of somebody, I would be bending over backwards to assist them in finding their new home
We aren’t all Ebeneezer Scrooge

My advice is to leave as soon as possible. The advice on here is always to ‘stick it to the man (landlord)’. Think about your mental health - do you really want to wait for bailiffs? Even with the new rules, if the landlord is selling s/he has every right to reclaim their property. When my brother became homeless he was signposted to a charity and offered a tent! (He’s under 50 though so might be different for you). My point being, even waiting for the council to act might not work out.

Don’t worry about the state of the house, the landlord hasn’t given you enough time to sort it so they’ll get it back in any old condition. Sticking to the legal notice period is heartless after 26 years.

Can the pets stay with mum and dad until you get settled somewhere? how about your furniture? I’d be looking at renting a room somewhere to give you the time and space to find something better.

Start looking now and the very best of luck.