Landlord served us with section 21

[dionysoss]

Hello,

We have been at this property for year now, never missed a payment, always got in touch with the agency if there was an issue. Just today we have been served with a section 21. We have 2 months until we have to move out on the 13th of July.

I am pregnant and my due date is 19th of July. I have let the agency know I am pregnant and they didn't seem to care too much, they said they'll let the landlord know if he can be flexible with the dates.

I am really stressed right now, we just set up the baby's room and the location was perfect for raising our child (we had a park, peaceful area, a community centre for new moms, etc)

My partner also got his driver license suspended because he was caught speeding and he is an HGV driver and now out of work.

I feel like somebody pulled the rug underneath my feet and I don't know what to do. If I had the option to move in with my parents I would, but they live abroad. my partner's mom wouldn't bee too keen for us to move in.

It's not where I imagined I would be at this stage in my pregnancy (30 weeks) but I am really stressing out.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I feel for you. We’ve had to move twice dint he last three years due to landlords selling up. The availability of private rentals is really low at the moment too.
can you register with the council?

Sorry op, rotten timing. s21's are being abolished and landlords are rushing to execute before they go. Speak to housing at your local authority if you are financially unable to find another place to rent. Ensure you pay your rent as delinquency in this can backfire. LA will advise stay until court eviction then bailiffs. Use turntous to get benefits advice. You should get the housing element of universal credit plus uc should you rent privately again and also for your current property rental as partner out of work. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck 💐

Contact Shelter. You do not have to move out on the date of the S21 - as the tenant, the tenancy only ends when you move out. It means the LL has to go to court to formally evict you (taking approx 6 months at the moment). I’m not sure of the nuances of when to advise the council you are homeless but as above, contact Shelter / look on their website and they will advise you.

It must be very stressful but a S21 does not mean you have to move within the next 8 weeks.

That’s horrible! I am planning to get in touch with the housing association today. Hopefully they can help.

Much appreciate it @CherryRipe1 ! Can’t believe they can just you with a section 21 with no legitimate grounds. No wonder people want them abolished. Will look into it!

It's unfortunate for tenants but landlords still own the property and if they don't want to rent any more what do you suggest they do?

As previously mentioned, you don't have to move out until you're evicted, which is taking a really long time right now. That gives you a bit of leeway for finding somewhere new. Try not to stress too much about it, you will find somewhere.

I hope you can get something sorted.
However, you don't know their reasons for selling aren't legitimate.

Thank you @YellowAndGreenToBeSeen . Ideally I don’t want to leave it until court case is served just because of the stress of the baby. I am a first time mum as well. Childbirth is scary enough but to have to deal with this straight after is something I’d rather ignore. Hopefully, we’ll try to get a place sorted before the July.

You don’t know that there are no legitimate grounds unless the landlord has specifically told you their reasons. It’s likely to be about their own finances rather than anything you’ve done.

Start looking for other private rentals today and get yourself registered with all the local estate agents. Register with the council as well.

If you can find something else without having to go through the stress of being evicted by a court then do that.

Can you contact the LL direct and explain your situation? Maybe they'll be open to negotiating an extension of the lease...

But definitely also contact Shelter.

You don't have to move out and can wait to be evicted by the courts which takes a lot of time.
Rents are going to rise astronomically when the landlords start to sell up as they have fewer and fewer rights to their property. The way the whole renting system in this country works does not work at all.

You can but you will never be able to rent anything decent again.

To the people saying they're being abolished - what about if the landlord wants to sell? Will that be banned?

The landlord might need the money, you just dont know. If you go to court surely you will forfeit the references you will need to rent another property?

No, you jist serve a section 8. Section 21 is no reason eviction. All that’s happening is they now need to give a valid reason. It’s still two months notice.

Obviously you're going to need references so I wouldn't wait to get evicted. Your partner sounds like a dick. He needs to grow up and find a job this week. Without him having a job in this competitive rental market, your only choice really will be to wait to get evicted and go to the council I would imagine.

And I’m surprised you’d even think that, how could you possibly force someone to own and rent a property for ever more. It’s not a council house with a life time tenancy right,

to make the system fairer landlords can’t just evict for no reason after section 21 is abolished, but if they want to sell it, move into it, whatever they can evict with two months notice under a section 8. They just need to have a valid reason.

I do wish landlords doing this when there is no 'adverse' situation on tenants part would at least contact tenant first to explain why- it's a mental thing as a tenant and makes you feel you are being 'booted out ' rather than landlord needing to sell etc

Unfortunately it's always a risk when you are renting that the LL will want you out whenever for their own reasons. It's terrible timing but I would do everything I could to get a new home sorted as soon as possible. It would be much better to be moved and set up before the baby comes, than having to do it after, if you can manage that.

I wouldn't ruin your tenancy history, and chances of future rentals, by making the LL evict you. If the LL is selling because of financial hardship and still has a mortgage over the property, it's not fair on them either, so at least keep paying rent if you do decide to go down that path. In this day and age of tenant databases, try to stay off them.

When did your husband get his licence suspended? Can he appeal it? I'm guessing he already had alot of points on his licence but sometimes the judge can allow you to keep your licence if losing it would cause real hardship to you/your family. This is a case by case situation though and as he's already lost his job I'm not sure if that would help.

If you don't get anywhere sorted by July, do not leave until the bailiffs arrive. Yes it will affect you privately renting in the future, yes it's rubbish for the landlord and not fair but the council doesn't make it fair! If you leave before then they will say you are intentionally homeless and have no responsibility to help you. It's a really rubbish situation to be in, but you will get through this.

And yes obviously keep paying the rent! Again if you don't the council will say you are intentionally homeless.

If you need to get a housing association house or council house after this. Then your landlord is going to have to take you to court to get you out. If you leave with the section 21 you'll be found you made yourself intentionally homeless and they won't help you. Courtesy would be to tell your landlord you can't leave in July.

They have to get a court order to get you out and that can take months. They can't change the locks because that's an illegal eviction.

Get in touch with the council and tell them your s21 expires in July and follow their advice.

@sqirrelfriends true the landlord has every right to get his property back especially during these crippling financial times. I just think there should be more support for tenants from the agencies in case that happens. Like fair enough you have 2 months notice but in the meantime we'll have your back and look for a different place for you.

Ime asking your ll for a glowing reference can go a long way. We got one not long after an emcs and promises we could stay for years.....
Accept it is my advice. And quickly.. At least you will be moved and settled before dc arrives.
Get looking. Ask ll for your reference now. Ask the council for their list of accredited ll. They can help with deposit /rent up front if you use one.

@flowersinthepond we would like to avoid that. I can imagine being more difficult to move out after having a baby than before. We were planning on staying there for another year then hopefully get on the property ladder. I doubt he'd extend our contract for another year.