Landlords want house back cue absolute nightmare

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My landlords need to move back in so I need to move out. I have 2 months.

The problems I have are:

I'm a single parent
I receive housing benefit
I have 2 children
There are currently 0 properties for rent in the town I live
I have very very little money and have absolutely no idea where a deposit and first months rent are coming from.
The council waiting lists in this area are huge and houses are hardly ever available.

I have been renting privately for 4 years now and I have moved 3 times and always been lucky to move through choice instead of having to. I now find myself in the position of having 2 months to find a new home.
I can't sleep, I suffer from anxiety and depression and I've dealt with so much shit in the past few months that I don't think I can carry on.

I am going to call the council tomorrow morning but I know that the answer will be to call them when I'm actually on the street and I will be given temp accommodation anywhere they can and there is absolutely no way I can say no.

I moved back to this area a year ago following a suicide attempt. I needed to be close to my family so moved back (I moved away 4 years ago to a town 15 miles away) and things have been better.

The thought of moving away again makes me feel sick I'm not sure I could cope on my own.

I had viral meningitis late last year and I lost my job because I needed to take sick days with being in hospital and recovering. I have struggled to find work since and my kids are 7 and 2 so childcare issues too. I didn't plan on being a single parent either but I'm better off without abusive exdp (playstation man if anyone remembers that thread)

I am really just venting.

My family seem to think the council have a magic wand and will house me straight away but they won't listen when I tell them it won't happen and there are hundreds of families in front of me for a 2 bedroom property.

I just don't know what to do.

My luck needs to change because I have been through enough.

You potentially have longer than two months.

Do you understand the applicable tenancy law and procedure?

I haven't heard of it... I'm in Scotland if it's any different though.

Ideally they want to move back in asap, the 2 months is what I was told is the maximum amount of time they have to give me as notice.

Can your family help out here temporarily to give you a chance of getting more on an even keel and a bit of time?

infound myself in this situation last year unfortunately, very stressful.

Luckily my local council gave me the first months rent and deposit as they could not house is. This was all arranged within the notice period. I know pay that back at £25 a month so don't really notice it. They have done this twice for me.

I would suggest seeing if this is something your council can offer?

Ask the LLs to formally serve you with the appropriate legal notice (as in legal document). That will help with applying for social housing.

Ring Scottish Shelter or similar to get specific advice. You don't have to just leave the moment they ask. It's a business arrangement and they should behave professionally, observe the legalities etc.

(I believe you have stronger tenancy law up there than we do down here, BTW.)

being in Scotland does make a big difference, but you definitely need formal written notice in the correct format, expiring on the correct date. I can't advise further as I only know the English situation, do make sure you are getting the right info.

the council attitudes in these cases give me the rage; how does that help anyone?

speak to your GP they can write letters of support to council - ie that your MH will suffer without adequate housing (thereby costing them much more if they need to foster out your kids...)

In Scotland, if the LL requires the property bank for his/her own use, they cannot give you less than 2 months notice. So it can't be any less than that.

Are you renting via an agency? They may be able to give you 1st refusal on local properties before they are marketed.

CAB may also be able to advise & also have a website.

Go here and tell them what you've told us here (along with the answers to the questions below and someone - probably a v nice bloke called Artful Lodger (not Dodger) will come along and help - he's a LL in Scotland)

Q1 – Where is the rented property located (England / Wales / Scotland / N Ireland)?

Q2 – What type of Tenancy Agreement (TA) is this e.g. sole tenant / multiple tenant / room only?

Q3 – What date did current TA start dd/mm/yy?

Q4 – How long was initial fixed term (6/12/24 months / other)?

Q5 – Does the TA state that rent is due weekly? / 4-weekly? / per calendar month (if so, on what same date each month)?

Q6 – Did the TA require a tenant damage deposit to be paid? If so, on what date was this paid (dd/mm/yy)?

Q7 – If your query relates to a notice for repossession from the landlord (a Section 8 or Section 21 notice) or a tenants's notice to quit to the landlord, please provide the exact date the notice was sent/received (dd/mm/yy).

Q8 – Does the landlord live in the same property as the tenant?

He'll probably want to know whether an AT5 was signed/dated at the start of the tenancy and whether your Landlord is properly registered...