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Original poster

Single young mum with 2 kids about to be evicted - plse help

168 replies

TheRhubarb · 13/06/2011 10:56

My neighbour is a single mum with 2 pre-school kids, one just 8 months old. She's been living where she is now for more than a year and her contract is a rolling one with both owners of the house who are renting it out because they've split up.

The contract is signed by both parties and she pays her rent to a bank account in the wife's name.

He now has a new girlfriend and wants to move back into the property, giving her 2 months notice. But she didn't pay him a deposit which means she has no deposit to take to another house. 2 months doesn't give her time to find a new place or save up for the deposit she would need.

She's currently on maternity leave but will be a full time student in Sept and is receiving housing benefit, child tax credit etc.

He hasn't given her formal notice yet, he's coming at 12noon to tell her whether or not he wants to move back in and I'm going to be with her for support. My question is; obv he will have to give written notice but will his wife need to sign the eviction notice too?

Should she tell him that he'll have to evict her forcibly? Which he will need to do because otherwise she'll have made herself voluntarily homeless.

Any other advice before he comes round gratefully appreciated.

Cheers guys

OP posts:
Gooseberrybushes · 13/06/2011 16:36

Peachy - how aI being spiteful, exactly?

"And unless her trust fund can be released it is irrelevant."

She had access to it last year when she was pregnant and a mother. She refused it and has been claiming since then.

Gooseberrybushes · 13/06/2011 16:37

Rhubs has been around for years?

Yeah and?

Peachy · 13/06/2011 16:39

and having not spoken to her for a while it wa natural for me to have a chat with her about general stuff.

Original poster
TheRhubarb · 13/06/2011 16:46

Because her attitude to young mums stinks Hully.

Collaborate thanks for that. I don't know anything about her trust fund so don't know if it's in her name or not. I'm certainly not going to pry any further. She doesn't claim income support as she has been working but I think her working tax credit will probably end when her maternity leave does and I'm not sure if she can claim it when going to college. Presumably there will be a bursary as Peachy said.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheRhubarb · 13/06/2011 16:49

Peachy don't rise to it.

It's easy to judge but no so easy to put your predjuices to one side and offer your time and support.

If her trust fund is still in her mothers name, then it may have been her mother who offered it to her last year when she was pg. I can understand her reasons for turning it down if it would affect her HB and if she wanted to use it as a deposit. There is nothing stating that your parents cannot save money in their name to give to you at a later date.

My mother once told me that she had taken out a trust fund for me. I never saw any of it however and have a feeling that it was in her name so she spent it.

OP posts:
Gooseberrybushes · 13/06/2011 16:50

Excuse me - it's not an attitude to young mums. As anyone reading my posts would be able to tell. You are too sensitive.

Gooseberrybushes · 13/06/2011 16:52

"I can understand her reasons for turning it down if it would affect her HB."

There we are. And there is the difference between us.

StillSquiffy · 13/06/2011 17:01

I'm with GB here.

Original poster
TheRhubarb · 13/06/2011 17:03

Yes because blow me if a young mum doesn't need to secure a deposit these days to buy a house for herself and her kids. Again, it's not her fault that banks have made it virtually impossible for first time buyers to get on the housing ladder, not her fault that the government refuses to do anything to encourage the banks to lend, not her fault that nearly all the council houses have been sold leading to a shortage of council properties, not her fault grants encouraging young people into education have been cut, not her fault that single mums will soon have their childcare allowance cut and not her fault that councils insist you have to be actually living on the streets before they will house you.

So if she claims HB whilst studying at college for a degree in midwifery and her parents have put aside some money for her to use as a deposit for her first home then I applaud her. Because she will soon be putting a hell of a lot more into society than she took out.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheRhubarb · 13/06/2011 17:06

Anyway you can argue the moral case between yourselves now. This particular situation has resolved itself temporarily and I will continue to offer support and help for her as is my right. But right now my family need their tea making so excuse me for today Smile

Good to see you both again Hully and Peachy btw.

OP posts:
StillSquiffy · 13/06/2011 17:07

I don't applaud her at all. If she has absolute entitlement to a trust fund she is defrauding the system. A system designed to protect those who really need it, not those who - by your own account - have a wealthy BF, wealthy parents, and a trust fund.

Gooseberrybushes · 13/06/2011 17:10

"Yes because blow me if a young mum doesn't need to secure a deposit these days to buy a house for herself and her kids."

So other working people who really do not have a bean and have no chance of buying a house themselves have to fund her lifestyle in the meantime?

Outrageous.

kiesmommy · 13/06/2011 17:18

i have been in this situation, i rented a house on the promise that it would be for a minimum of 3 years, got my son into school etc then after a year the LL came back wanting the house. I was given 2 months notice, i work but only part time so also get HB, which most LL wont touch without a Guarantor who earns 18k or above. I had no way of saving a deposit either, so it was either a hostel for moms an babies or a loan to pay for my own deposit. I have very bad credit but managed to get a loan which also takes a guarantor, it had high interest rates but what choice did i have? I went to the estate agents i was with, who knew i had looked after the house and paid the rent on time, explained the situation, they did credit check me again but said they wouldnt charge unless it passed, does she have an agent she could talk to? Mine took me to see a house the same day an had it sorted within the week ( good job as ex LL changed the locks on me and moved his stuff in while i was still legally living there)
If her BF has a bedsit, surely she can stay there for a while???

Hullygully · 13/06/2011 17:23

You can negotiate longer contracts, for three years or five years.

GypsyMoth · 13/06/2011 18:36

Worth remembering a lot of LL can't take hb due to mortgage restrictions

How on earth she navigated the benefit forms and got accepted with a 50k trust fund I will never know!! Isn't 16k cut off for savings?

Is the bf the father of the dc,i'm confused.

Fifis25StottieCakes · 13/06/2011 18:40

I thought it was 6k, stories changed a bit since the last time i was on. Why is she living apart from her DP. Is it so she can claim HB or are they split up?

hugeleyoutnumbered · 13/06/2011 18:51

she can apply for a crisis loan for rent in advance also she can make the landlord take her to court for a possession order it will delay things a little the court will lean towards her in that situation, good luck

GypsyMoth · 13/06/2011 18:53

Fifi,first it was a 'bedsit' now it's a flat. Don't know what's going on here

Amieesmum · 13/06/2011 18:59

I was in a similar situation 18 months ago - The land lord will have to give her a section 21 notice.

Speak to the CAB and local councils housing officer, they often have a list if land lords who will rent with no deposit as long as she has a good reference, or a letting agent with a deposit scheme, where you can pay a little extra for rent each month instead of a deposit.

Housing benefit can pay a months rent in advance when renting a new place.

GypsyMoth · 13/06/2011 19:00

Actually, having read back, op states father of the children lives in a Bedsit, they plan to move in together soon

Then says he lives in his own flat which he owns outright!!! And doesn't want to live with her!!!!

Bloody hell!!!!

Think I might be with gooseberry on this one too!!

Northernlurker · 13/06/2011 19:09

RhubarbO - she may be a lovely lass indeed but what you are saying is that she had the opportunity to access funds held for her benefit but declined in favour of claiming more from the state whilst keeping her capital intact. That is clearly unfair. If she had been unable to access the funds then yes she should get the support she is entitled to - but that is not the case. I think she has been dishonest there.
I also think that she is being dishonest claiming as a single parent when in a relationship that sounds stable. It appears as if they living apart only to screw more money from the state. That is also dishonest imo.

I can see you want to help this woman and I applaud that but I would be careful about how deeply you involve yourself because it seems to be that her moral compass is way off beam.

Fifis25StottieCakes · 13/06/2011 19:09

Im sure you have to state on IS forms if you have a trust fund or savings. I know for my grandmas pension credit she cant have over 6K.

GypsyMoth · 13/06/2011 19:10

Who will look after the dc when doing midwife shifts??

Al0uiseG · 13/06/2011 19:22

Fuck me! She turned down access to her own money to claim HB? She has a boyfriend who fathered her children but "doesn't want to" live with her or provide for his children.

Sir Jeremy of Kyle - Here we come!

GastonTheLadybird · 13/06/2011 19:26

I do think it is unfair of this woman to access funds that are desperately needed elsewhere when she has access to a trust fund and isn't a "single" parent in the true sense of the word.

And I am usually as fluffy lefty as they come!

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