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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:
Northernlurker · 13/06/2011 19:29

Gaston - me too!

GypsyMoth · 13/06/2011 19:32

Well she will be claiming as a single person I assume

Ishani · 13/06/2011 19:38

Anyone else feel like you are the only idiot still playing by the rules :(

Northernlurker · 13/06/2011 20:04

Yup!

GypsyMoth · 13/06/2011 20:33

I wonder if he pays maintenance? No mortgage, he can clearly afford to

pinkthechaffinch · 13/06/2011 20:40

am I the only one thinking that the argument with Rhubarb and Gooseberrybushes is like the Garden Gang gone mad.

All we need is Custardo.

Portofino · 13/06/2011 20:40

She haaas 50 grand! I have worked for more than 25 years and I don't have access to 50 grand! The father of these children should be sorting something if they are in a relationship. They sound like a a couple of chancers playing the system to me. And you have been sucked in...

Original poster
TheRhubarb · 13/06/2011 20:47

Right,
Nowhere have I said that her bf or parents are loaded. Her bf earns £17k pa - I asked. They do not live together, I don't know why it's none of my business.

The trust fund is in her mother's name just found out, her mother offered it to her last year but she turned it down as she thought she was secure enough, was working still had a house to rent and wasn't claiming benefits. Her mother cannot now get access to the trust fund for another 2 years.

The girl is not claiming income support, she was working until the birth of her daughter and is on maternity leave. She starts college in Sept and will be working part time to support herself and her children.

I fail to see how I have been sucked in when I have not been asked for anything other than a bit of support, which I actually volunteered. She's just been round for a cuppa and a chat and is nothing like the sponger she has unfairly been portrayed as on here.

I feel very guilty for even posting this thread. I wanted a bit of advice on her rights as a tenant in case he did give her notice to quit, which is not now happening. The poor girl cannot defend herself as she doesn't know about this thread and I feel pretty terrible that everyone has jumped on the bandwagon to slag off someone they know absolutely nothing about. So I shall ask for it to be deleted to stop the hordes of Daily Mail readers tearing apart a girl they have never met.

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 13/06/2011 20:50

2years??thought you said one!

He managed to buy a flat outright, he should be taking responsibility for HIS kids!!

Fifis25StottieCakes · 13/06/2011 20:55

Im not a daily mail reader, i read the daily star and live in a council house

Hullygully · 13/06/2011 20:56

I wear cor blimey trousers and read the fish and chip wrappers

GypsyMoth · 13/06/2011 21:01

You weren't too worried about this girl when you posted her details in your op tho?!

sungirltan · 13/06/2011 21:10

hey op - only read pages 1/2 of 5 but here goes.

if your friend is looking for more secure accomodation then this whole situation might be a good thing. if the ll evicts her then she becomes 'unintentionally homeless' and single with 2 kids she will be at least band b which is high priority for housing. the likely outcome will be that she gets put in temporary accomodation for a while then gets given an official banding then she can 'bid' for permanent housing (i can explain this in more detail but you might already nkwo/been covered). if she goes into council there is no deposit to worry about and going to uni wont affect this as she will be entitled to housing benefit anyway.

if it was me in this situation i would phone the ll and say 'look i've had enough of this situation, write me a letter saying i can't stay for the ocuncil and i will get out and leave you to it'

Original poster
TheRhubarb · 13/06/2011 21:10

I got it wrong Tiffany, she has to wait 2 years.
And to be honest I wanted advice to pass onto her, I never imagined that she would be torn apart in this way. I now feel very very guilty that I posted all the details that I did because she's being slagged off without knowing it. I should know better after all the years I've been on Mumsnet, but I must admit, even I wasn't quite prepared for the reactions this thread has brought about.

She claims HB. She worked up until she gave birth. She paid taxes. For whatever reason her bf does not live with her which makes her a single mum. She is going to college. She still has all the tenant rights we talked about. The trust fund is not in her name. She has done nothing wrong and is working hard to provide for herself and her children and yet she is being torn apart as though she were a Waynetta type who smokes 50 a day, has 10 kids by 10 different dads, doesn't work and claims everything available. Which couldn't be further from the truth.

But I guess people need a faceless person to blame for everything and I just provided her Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
TheRhubarb · 13/06/2011 21:12

Thanks suntangirl, she has a much better idea of where she stands now. Although at £600pcm the owners of the house are getting more than their mortgage paid so I personally think they would be foolish to turf her out. She hasn't fallen behind with her rent at all but has got into a bit of trouble with her utility bills which she's paying off monthly.

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 13/06/2011 21:14

It's the working,homeowning father of the children who she is in a relationship with, which grates with me tbh.

sungirltan · 13/06/2011 21:15

hey no worries op - i'm not judging - not met her/don't know the facts but hey what do i know - over on my thread i'm being told i'm an idiot just for trying to help my tennant! ffs - hope your friend gets some resolution

Original poster
TheRhubarb · 13/06/2011 21:19

I'm surprised at how condemnatory everyone seems to be recently and by the nature of the threads on AIBU - ranging from abortion to racism. What's happening with Mumsnet at all?

Tiffany, yes I do understand that but I haven't met the guy so really wouldn't like to say how the situation stands. I think she's the loveliest person I've met - she brought round homemade cake!!! - and possibly he's taking advantage so he can live as a single guy but go to hers when he feels like it. I may have that completely wrong however, but atm my support is for her and her adorable kids and not for him.

OP posts:
Fifis25StottieCakes · 13/06/2011 21:27

Even if he stays at her house for one night it is benefit fraud. To claim CTC the forms say something along the lines of 'Sepertaed but living as a couple'. I know because i had to ring up and query it as i am quite friendly with my daughters dad and he collects the kids from my house

All i said was it sounds she is not actually a single parent as in single parent. It sounds like they are together but living seperately.

Portofino · 13/06/2011 21:32

Why is she not relying on HIM? If he has a fllat they can live there surely? Why should she be entitled to council housing?

pretentiouswasteoftime · 13/06/2011 21:37

Me too RhubarbO - seems these days unless you have a job, secure accommodation and no need to claim benefits you are some kind of pariah. Sad and crappy opinion sadly which are all too prevcelant on MN these days. Some of you should be ashamed of yourselves - or more likely condemned to a year with nothing but benefits and see how you fare. Nice to smug and proud isn't it. Hmm

Hiding this thread as it's depressing me.

Northernlurker · 13/06/2011 21:42

Come on Rhubarb - you said 'I can understand her reasons for turning it down if it would affect her HB ' and you told us all about the dad who is with her but not with her. Honestly do ou expect people to go ' oh that's fine'? The situation with the money being her mothers is in fact a totally different situation to the one you outlined and which people responded to.

Portofino · 13/06/2011 21:44

From what you have posted they are both playing the system. If it is different to this, please let us know! Is he paying child maintenance?

GypsyMoth · 13/06/2011 21:44

So these kids are being brought up on benefits and facing homelessness...... Whilst their father is in his own home with a full wage??

Gooseberrybushes · 13/06/2011 21:47

"I'm surprised at how condemnatory everyone seems to be recently."

Oh please. From someone hurling around the sort of language you were so free with earlier that's a bit rich.

Tiffany: that seems just about the size of it. It makes a difference that it's not her trust fund: but either they are both playing the system -- or he is being utterly feckless and irresponsible.

And you think the landlord should sort out her and her children rather than their own father.