Landlord's notice received and I am stressing!!

[PandaDad]

Hi folks, I love this forum it has helped me so much over the years with my bad anxiety. Anyways, my landlord has just given us notice to move out as they are selling their property. We are on a rolling contract so I think it's all legal and fine. Tbh, living here has given me severely bad mental health, so I kinda see it as a good thing... Only thing is, with rising prices of literally everything, my bank account isn't in the position where we can privately rent somewhere else.... This means we're having to rely on the council to help home us which makes me feel like an awful parent and someone who has failed to bring bread to the table. I have a 2yr F and 6 yr M and my wife. We all live together so are entitled to a 2 bed. I wanted to know anyone else's experiences when dealing with their council's homelessness process. It feels weird having to get help for being homeless while still living in a home lol. Like I'm trying to be dodgy about it which I'm definitely not!! We have no family that can help home us within 100 miles and my son has additional needs, but we are still awaiting for his EHCP.

Thanks in advance you lovely people

Where in the country do you live? I'm some areas you may be waiting several years for a council property.

Would it be possible to move somewhere cheaper?

Have you been given a section 21 ?

The council might expect you to remain in the property until you are evicted and actually homeless. Check their policy before you move out.

A diagnosis and dla might be more helpful than an ehcp in terms of council house waiting list. Do you have either of these?

A diagnosis might help with the type of housing you’re allocated to move into but it won’t help you get one any faster. Usually you go to the council when you are legally meant to leave the house but housing should tell you the process for your area. I turned up and asked to be housed it wasn’t a nice thing to have to do.

im so sorry you’re in the position you are, I am too. You’re not a bad parent or a failure sadly these things happen and it’s awful that working families cannot afford a home of their own. I’m a single parent 4 kids my landlord also sold our home, I work but couldn’t get anything due to affordability and prices in the area. We were in temp accommodation (b&b for 3weeks) then in temp house I had 3 children in one room - youngest is autistic so it was horrible but they’ve moved us to a bigger house which is better. However we’ve been in this limbo for 4 years and no sign of a house: my older boys are 20 and late teens but they will not bend and give us a 3 bed house which would mean moving far quicker than I would have done. So waiting for a 4 bed which will be half empty in a few years. I would try to swap later in, however it will be difficult as my youngest has moved 3 times in 4 years and struggles with it massively. We just want stability and somewhere we can make our own.

I hope it’s not as long for you op, take everything as it comes and don’t be scared to ask for help if you need it. I was on antidepressants for the first year as it was just so awful. My son has recently had his diagnosis so we are submitting medical information to try to help us.

Responce to messages:
We live on the isle of Wight and can't move away because of work, schooling etc. Our lives are here.

No section 21 just yet, but trying to get my head together and prepare for it.

In terms of diagnosis for my son, we are trying to get this done, but Drs are really bad here for it. Last time we went they wouldn't do tests because of 'future insurance reasons' and started going on about Brexit. Needless to say we refused to see that doctor again so it makes the process longer.

Finally serenghetti2011, I'm sorry to hear you've been through bad times as well. It seems that it has become too common nowadays, I feel like because your children are the same gender that might be why they have been so slow for you, but I'm not sure, who knows how these councils decide things..

Thanks for all of your replies, my local council takes action 52 days before your notice period ends, so sounds like they're better than some. It would be absolutely horrific to have to wait until like the day before you have to leave before hearing anything, like what are you supposed to do? If it all falls through that final day we'd end up staying in a shed or a tent and with 2 kids that is not something I ever want to have to do, and considering we both work full time it isn't something we should have to do either.