Can anyone help?- Renting issue

[Samedi]

I'm a nanny, I currently rent a bedsit at the top of a house. I've been here for three weeks, as has the other tenant (mirror image bedsit next to mine). Landlady posted a letter under my door today saying she had put the house on the market today, but not to consider this notice to move out- theres one months notice for either party in the contract.

She said in the letter that she didn't know how long it would take for house to sell, but 'may be as long as my original 6 months tenancy', which tells me she is thinking she wants me out sooner than that.

I'm going to start looking for somewhere to live now, assuming I only have a couple of months to sort it out. She is going to be showing my room obviously, and giving me one day notice each time.

I just wondered if anyone had any advice. I'd love to buy a place but I know there is no way I could afford a place near my new job, in St Margarets (near Richmond). Does anyone know of any sites to get legal advice about my contract etc, and about buying for the first time? I don't have enough money for a deposit I think. And I don't even know what costs buying a place would incur- I know of coucil tax and electricity, and water, what am I not thinking of?

This is so horrible I can't even see strait.

She can't get you out (assuming you have an assured shorthold tenancy) without serving you with proper notice and then, if you refuse to leave, getting a court order.

If she tries to get you out unlawfully before the end of the term you are entitled to claim compensation. Don't know what it is these days but it used to be the difference between the value of the property let, and value with vacant possession.

Would be worth your while, if she wants you out before the expiry of the term, seeing if she'll do you a deal on the last months rent and giving you your deposit back early, but as she says, it's unlikely she'll sell in the next 6 months, so she'd more than likely be able to give you proper notice under the tenancy.

That's not very nice of her. I understand that she couldn't have told you prior to you moving in that she was thinking of putting the house on the market, or you probably wouldn't have taken the bedsit - but honestly, she must have known when you moved in that this was her plan. How rude!

Most places around Richmond, St. Margarets are horrifyingly expensive - unless you go West, into Hounslow, Brent, Hanworth etc. Even then they're expensive (proximity to London and commuter belt) but less so than Richmond, Twickenham, Teddington and the like.

Thanks for replying- I havent been able to answer as I've been really ill for a couple of days.

Resolution- I'm not even sure what an assured shorthold tanancy is. I just signed a print out stating that I was letting the bedsit for 6 months from Friday 18th Feb. Th idea was (verbally agreed) that after 5 months I'd be asked if I wanted to renew for 6 more months- backed up by the fact that she said previous tennants had been there for 2 and a half years.

Thumbwitch- Sadly yes they are really expensive but as a nanny I go where the work is, the expensive areas! I now have a job in St Margarets and I cant travel too far to work- after a 12 hour day the last thing you need is a two hour commute, and getting to work for 7.30 may be an issue.

Sooz28- I don't know the difference I'm afraid, this is my first tiem renting! Landlady lives in the house as does her daughter but the other tennant/lodger share a bathroom and loo, with cooking facilities in each room. So all we share with landlady is front door and washing machilne (which we have to pay to use.)

I realise my original post was pretty random and didnt ask much- I just dont know what to ask!

Think it depends if you are renting under an AST or the rent a room scheme. Do you have a copy of your agreement ? CAB is a good place for advice, or Shelter. tbh it could well take a while for her to get a buyer and then for the sale to go through (about 3 months) and her to find/buy another place so it could easily be 6 months in total before you have to leave and she could determine a long completion date to allow for this

I'm afraid with no deposit you won't easily be able to get a mortgage to buy your own place and with rates set to rise is it a commitment you really want ? Other costs could include gas, maintenance, maybe an annual charge to the management company if you buy a leasehold property ie. apartment, insurance, phone/broadband, tv licence. To actually buy a proerpty involves legal fees and Stamp Duty(tax on properties above a certain price), arrangement fees and survey for mortgage - which could add up to a couple of thousand pounds payable upfront.