17 years ago my husband and I spent every last penny we had to move into a peaceful bunglalow, Two months after moving in the owner decided that he was going to come back from Austrailia where he worked as a doctor, he wanted his place back, we received notice!. We had nowhere to go and no money so I had to seek help from a local councillor, she told us that we needed to stay put, that if we left of our own free will without a court order that the local housing association would not help us to relocate. I was receiveing housing benifit because I am now 68 years old and until I retired I was unemployable due to poor health. I have guarenteed income for life.
When housing benifit were informed of the notice they stopped paying the rent and held it until the case was over - I suffered a stroke and was unable to attend court, I asked the local doctor if he could write me a letter excusing me from attending court due to my inablility to travel due to my stroke. He would not give me a letter excusing me as he mentioned that it was disgraceful that I was causing the owner of the property so much grief, Apparently they had gone to college together!, Anyway, I could not attend court and the case went ahead without me. The result was that I was hit for everything including costs, £3000, even though we sent in a full report in defence, this was dismissed. we were ordered to pay £10 a week, which we are still paying 17 years on. Because of this I have a CCJ in my name. Before moving to this property we had an excellent reference from our previous landlord, indeed we have had excellent references since. Our bills are our priority. We do not smoke, drink, drive or have any other bad habits. We are currently living in Lincolnshire but we desperately want to get down and live in Devon. The owner of the property I am living in now for the past 6 years, has died and his son and daughter want to sell, So we have already received our two months notice. The agent Belvoir took a gamble on us and rented the property to us taking 6 months rent and deposit of 6 weeks. they eventually put us on monthly rent, as they knew that could trust us. They are looking for a place for us now but they will only look in the town I am living. We want to rent a bungalow in Devon but worried that the agent will reject us, also we are 300 miles from there so viewing may be a problem. we are going to put all our belongings in storage and see if we can rent a winter let, but worried how this would work and if they would help us. Our agent has said that any agent can contact them and they will give us a glowing reference. We have less than 2 months, and at 68 years old I just do not need all the stress. Is it possible that if I put my case to an agent at the start that there are some that may help us to find our home in devon.? we do prefer a long let. any advice would be appreciated.