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.

What @faggyhagger says is the most practical and succinct advice here 👍.

He drove so dangerously he was disqualified from driving, possible IN a lorry. His time was more important than other people's lives and supporting his child. I can think of much harsher words than 'dick', which he absolutely is.

If there are fewer rental properties available, it will drive the price of rent up. For those who have to rent, things will be much worse and they will have to live in overcrowded or poorer quality accomodation.

But for those who can afford to buy, property will likely be a bit cheaper. I think we can see which side you are on @JustAnotherPoster00

Talk to your landlord about your situation. Often the most difficult situations can be resolved my mutual consent. Although some are, many private landlords are not Ogres... and I speak as a long time private tenant.

If employment in the near future is not likely register for social housing and sit tight, eventually you will get evicted and the council will have to house you.

Do not leave voluntarily if you make yourself homeless you won’t get housed

Extreme, yes but that’s the way it works.

I suggested this early on. @dionysoss - have you spoken to your LL yet?

Do you have sufficient income to commit to, say, a 6 months fixed term AST, to give yourself some breathing room?

I’m sorry OP about your experience.

But I am a bit confused by all the talk about ‘stay and wait to get evicted’ and suggesting it’s awful of landlords asking tenants to leave.
Why would a person ( landlord) HAVE to keep a house they wanted to sell because the tenants don’t want to move.

Because its not right ethically or morally to suddenly evict someone mid tenancy.

Instead give them plenty of notice that the tenancy will not be extended when it expires (most are rolling 12/18 months) so they have time to find alternative accommodation.

@EatTheToast

The fact that something is true (for argument's sake) doesn't make it less nasty for you to name call.

@Labracadabradoodle @FlowerArranger your are both right. I need to contact the LL. I am going to ask the agency if they can pass my details to him so we can talk things out. They have been a bit funny in the past about giving his details to us. Took time off work today to go around different estate agents and register with them. Some were more helpful than others but it’s a start! Also got an email from the housing association saying that they will get back to us on Monday to discuss things further so hopefully things will get sorted.

The need to wait to get evicted has been explained above. Yes, it doesn't make sense, but the law on this is the proverbial ass.

And it's not just a question of tenants not 'wanting' to move but it being difficult to do so at only 2 months notice. As a landlord one needs to treat tenancies as a business that affects people's lives. It's reasonable to plan one's business in such a way that a firesale would be a last resort, and also bear in mind how this will affect the tenants.

@dionysoss - have you checked out the Shelter website? Talk to them, or CAB.

Is your landlord's name not mentioned in the tenancy agreement? In my view tenants should be entitled to know the identity and contact details of the LL, though I've no idea what the legal position is.

What a mess, and none of your own making. I hope you can get something sorted

My family member was killed by a lorry. He bloody deserves to be called a dick, we can't all pussyfoot around criminals.

@FlowerArranger his full name and address is in the agreement but not his phone number.

@naughty40me that is absolutely horrific. Bless you! Can't imagine the stress you must be going through right now!

Bravo for staying on top with 2 children and part time work! Keeping my fingers crossed it all works out for you 👏

What a scum of a landlord.

@endofthelinefinally Oh, he feels really shit about it. He hasn't been able to sleep since he got his license suspended. Even worse now that we are going to get evicted. I was furious and he knew it. No point in kicking him even more when he is already down. He is in between jobs here and there but not with a proper contract.

@Dedododo much appreciate the advice🌹 Sorry you had to go though all of that! Hope things are going well for your family right now. And yeah no joke, it's really stressful.

@dionysoss - talk to Shelter as a matter of urgency and seek their help in composing a letter requesting an extension of the notice period and/or a new 6-months AST. Send it registered post!

@dedododo and @dionysoss

Thank you both.

For what it's worth I have no objection to a landlord needing to sell, it comes with the territory of private renting.

However in my case the landlord is a big player. He even builds new build estates and has many HMOs in this area too.

He doesn't need this house to live in himself or to sell to make a pension.

He was a cash buyer so there's not even a mortgage to pay!

It's a big house, and granted it would bring the £750 he's wanting however only once he has done some major renovation. No one in their right mind would pay that for this dump.

I've been here 10 years as it belonged to a family member.

The entire house is in disrepair. But he came along and wanted to charge the new rent without doing any work.

Lucky for me my TA said otherwise.

It's so hard OP. I have everything crossed for you.

Try and think of it as a new start.

Stay positive. That's what everyone keeps telling me lol!

You will find somewhere else..but if HA is what you need due to your financial position then I'm afraid they will make you wait until very near court proceedings.

It's a ridiculous set up but every time I ring up to chase I get told they are dealing with people who are homeless that night.

The solicitor even warned me that the council usually leave you until a day before the bailiffs come. She said but if not don't worry cos the bailiffs are nice people. Still not a nice thing to go through.

Especially when you haven't done anything wrong.

Best of luck OP. I'll be thinking of you.

Just an update, a homeless prevention officer got in touch with us yesterday, I explained to her the situation at hand and she said she’ll get in contact with the estate agency to extend our stay until we can find a suitable place at least, given that my due is so close to the eviction date. Hopefully the landlord agrees with an extension.

she then said if that doesn’t go forward, we’ll have to send her all the relevant documents but cant make any promises of the type of place or even if it will in the same city.

We had this when DS was a couple of months old as landlord wanted the house for his son.

At the end of the day the house doesn't belong to the the landlord though 🤷🏼‍♀️. This is why we need more social housing and less private landlords

I'm confused. What do you mean the house doesn't belong to the landlord? Of course it does unless I'm missing something. And it also belongs to the bank if there is a mortgage over it.

@WildCoasts it is was a typo sorry I meant DOES

We also got an email from the housing register office. They have noted that we are applying on the basis of affordability and that we have been served with an eviction notice.

they have listed a couple of documents that they’ll need from us.

it says toward some the end sofa the email that current wait for a 2 bedroom property is around 2 years so we need to liaise with the homeless prevention team.

this is so fucked up.
i can’t believe they don’t have a safety net in dire situations like this. Also we were advise by the homeless prevention officer that we don’t need to leave the property by the eviction date, saying that it will take time for the landlord to go to court and kick Us out like wtf?!?

the only silver lining is if the landlord agrees to an extension of our stay

Do you have older children OP? My understanding with the council is that you won't qualify for a 2 bed until the baby is born.