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Original poster

Think I'm about to be homeless

37 replies

lollipoprainbow · 19/01/2023 18:57

Urgh feel so sick and scared. Rental has been on market since October 2021 As landlord selling. Been here for ten years. Handful of viewings since then so I've sat tight as it's the perfect flat for us and in right area

Been asked to fit a viewing in on Monday and it's a lady that viewed it last year. The other property she was buying has fallen through. I'm convinced she will put an offer in and I'll be asked to leave.

Has anyone else been in this situation? How long does it take for a sale to go through ?

OP posts:
Winter2020 · 19/01/2023 19:06

Unless it's a landlord buying the property if the person buying needs a residential mortgage then they will require vacant possession.

That is to say the sale can't go through while you are living there so how long a sale normally takes to go through isn't really the question.

Don't leave with nowhere to go. If you have nowhere to go (can't find anywhere) the landlord will have to formally evict you and that takes time (many months).

If the estate agent that is selling the property also does lettings see if they can recommend you for places. They might help as they will want their commission from the sale.

pavillion1 · 20/01/2023 07:28

i doubt any sale will go through with a sitting tenant. Im guessing if you haven't been served a section 21 that your landlord is hoping to see it to another landlord .
We have been in your situation, its an awful feeling .

Original poster
lollipoprainbow · 20/01/2023 07:33

I asked the agent and they said it isn't a landlord. They had initially marketed it as an investment property but no joy. I haven't slept all night for worrying.

OP posts:
LoveCillian · 20/01/2023 07:34

Have you been served with a section 21 notice

Suzi888 · 20/01/2023 07:36

Contact your LA today and get proper housing advice.
Landlord cannot simply throw you out onto the street.

MithrilCostsMore · 20/01/2023 07:39

It might be the right flat for you but it isn't yours. You need to be proactive and start looking at properties to rent. Yes, it's awful having to move out of a home you live but you need to face reality and sort yourself put.

Original poster
lollipoprainbow · 20/01/2023 07:44

@LoveCillian no but I'm expecting it next week if the viewer decides to buy.

OP posts:
Original poster
lollipoprainbow · 20/01/2023 07:44

@Suzi888 I'm already on the housing list but band d so no chance whatsoever of getting anywhere.

OP posts:
LisaVanderpump1 · 20/01/2023 11:22

MithrilCostsMore · 20/01/2023 07:39

It might be the right flat for you but it isn't yours. You need to be proactive and start looking at properties to rent. Yes, it's awful having to move out of a home you live but you need to face reality and sort yourself put.

This. Instead of getting bogged down in who's buying the flat and how long it will take, put that energy towards finding somewhere else to live. If you have limited funds, you'll have to be realistic and open to moving to somewhere that's not so perfect for you. Take charge.

Lots of people will disagree, but I really don't support the idea of just sitting there and causing a headache for the landlord, the prospective buyer, and yourself. That situation will be really stressful for everyone and it just delays the inevitable. It's the kind of "solution" that gets thrown around a lot, but I have no doubt that if those posters that suggest it were the landlord and their tenant was stopping them from selling their property, they'd feel very differently...

AfraidToRun · 20/01/2023 20:16

You don't need to leave until you have an eviction notice.

First step landlord issued a valid section 21 (which could be invalid for a looking list if reasons). They say that in 2months they will go to court. You do not have to leave.

Landlord goes to court takes a few months and then gets an eviction notice. This process could take months. Once you have an eviction notice you could take it to the council.

I would be asking the landlord to pay the deposit for your next rental and a month's rent in order that they can sell and you can move on.

Colderthanever · 21/01/2023 10:29

AfraidToRun · 20/01/2023 20:16

You don't need to leave until you have an eviction notice.

First step landlord issued a valid section 21 (which could be invalid for a looking list if reasons). They say that in 2months they will go to court. You do not have to leave.

Landlord goes to court takes a few months and then gets an eviction notice. This process could take months. Once you have an eviction notice you could take it to the council.

I would be asking the landlord to pay the deposit for your next rental and a month's rent in order that they can sell and you can move on.

Sure but we both know she will never get anothe rental again. So it’s shite advice. Her best bet is to be proactive

Shgytfgtf111 · 21/01/2023 10:35

I agree with pp, rather than hoping the flat never sells look for somewhere else now. It will sell at some point and you don't want to have to be evicted.

NewYearNewName2023 · 21/01/2023 10:39

AfraidToRun · 20/01/2023 20:16

You don't need to leave until you have an eviction notice.

First step landlord issued a valid section 21 (which could be invalid for a looking list if reasons). They say that in 2months they will go to court. You do not have to leave.

Landlord goes to court takes a few months and then gets an eviction notice. This process could take months. Once you have an eviction notice you could take it to the council.

I would be asking the landlord to pay the deposit for your next rental and a month's rent in order that they can sell and you can move on.

Well that's all fine, as long as she doesn't ever need to get a private rental again

LisaVanderpump1 · 21/01/2023 13:45

AfraidToRun · 20/01/2023 20:16

You don't need to leave until you have an eviction notice.

First step landlord issued a valid section 21 (which could be invalid for a looking list if reasons). They say that in 2months they will go to court. You do not have to leave.

Landlord goes to court takes a few months and then gets an eviction notice. This process could take months. Once you have an eviction notice you could take it to the council.

I would be asking the landlord to pay the deposit for your next rental and a month's rent in order that they can sell and you can move on.

😂😂😂

This is a joke, right? Why on earth should the landlord be paying his tenant's deposit and some of her rent on a future rental in order for her to move out? IT'S THE LANDLORD'S FLAT. He should be able to get it back when he asks for it. Your entitlement is wild.

Original poster
lollipoprainbow · 21/01/2023 14:27

@LisaVanderpump1 he will get it back when he asks for it I don't intend to make things difficult he's been wonderful for ten years even more reason why I don't want to leave. I'm sitting tight as there's nothing in my price range and flats where I am have around thirty people interested so the landlords can pick and choose who to have. I'm still up

OP posts:
Original poster
lollipoprainbow · 21/01/2023 14:27

Still hoping that another landlord buys and I can sell. I'd be stupid to leave before I need/want to.

OP posts:
Florissant · 21/01/2023 14:40

LisaVanderpump1 · 21/01/2023 13:45

😂😂😂

This is a joke, right? Why on earth should the landlord be paying his tenant's deposit and some of her rent on a future rental in order for her to move out? IT'S THE LANDLORD'S FLAT. He should be able to get it back when he asks for it. Your entitlement is wild.

Show quote history

Agreed. That original post was completely unrealistic.

The reality of the situation is that if you rent, you run the risk of needing to find a new place to live.

AfraidToRun · 21/01/2023 23:21

It might be the landlords property but its a tenants home until the tenancy is ended either by the courts or by the tenant. If he wants a sale quickly then it's in his interest to help you to move sooner rather than later, however that might look.

It might seem outlandish but it does happen. If I were a landlord, needed a sale quickly and didn't want someone to be homeless as a result I think I would at least consider it especially for a tenant of ten years... but perhaps I'm too soft in my old age.

Florissant · 21/01/2023 23:28

AfraidToRun · 21/01/2023 23:21

It might be the landlords property but its a tenants home until the tenancy is ended either by the courts or by the tenant. If he wants a sale quickly then it's in his interest to help you to move sooner rather than later, however that might look.

It might seem outlandish but it does happen. If I were a landlord, needed a sale quickly and didn't want someone to be homeless as a result I think I would at least consider it especially for a tenant of ten years... but perhaps I'm too soft in my old age.

It's the tenant's home until it is ended by either the tenant or the landlord. If the courts come into it the situation has gone too far.

It is not the landlord's responsibility to pay for a tenant's new housing.

AfraidToRun · 21/01/2023 23:49

A section 21 doesn't end a tenancy. It is notice that if the tenant doesn't leave voluntarily (thus ending the tenancy) by the requested date, the landlord will seek possession and end the tenancy through legal means. Most people do just leave within 2 months (as I have done in the past).

Its not the landlords responsibility but it might be in their best interest to speed things up. It sounds like OP is facing market difficulties anyway so not much the landlord can do about that.

MyBabyLaura · 22/01/2023 03:06

LisaVanderpump1 · 20/01/2023 11:22

This. Instead of getting bogged down in who's buying the flat and how long it will take, put that energy towards finding somewhere else to live. If you have limited funds, you'll have to be realistic and open to moving to somewhere that's not so perfect for you. Take charge.

Lots of people will disagree, but I really don't support the idea of just sitting there and causing a headache for the landlord, the prospective buyer, and yourself. That situation will be really stressful for everyone and it just delays the inevitable. It's the kind of "solution" that gets thrown around a lot, but I have no doubt that if those posters that suggest it were the landlord and their tenant was stopping them from selling their property, they'd feel very differently...

Show quote history

OP has to do what's best for herself and her family's life. Just as landlord and everyone else in the world does what's best for them. OP is entitled to centre her own needs in her own life and not prioritize someone else's. If she pays below market rent, which I'm guessing is likely if she's been there ten years, and if she can't afford (or can't secure) anything else habitable within commuting distance to her work, then what's best for her is going to be to wait for a formal eviction to take place so the council's homelessness policy takes effect and she's bumped up to band A and eligible for temporary accommodation.

OP if this ends up being what happens, don't feel guilty, you're doing nothing wrong and the situation you're in isn't your fault. It isn't anybody's fault, it's just life.

OhIdoLike2bBesideTheSeaside · 22/01/2023 08:20

AfraidToRun · 20/01/2023 20:16

You don't need to leave until you have an eviction notice.

First step landlord issued a valid section 21 (which could be invalid for a looking list if reasons). They say that in 2months they will go to court. You do not have to leave.

Landlord goes to court takes a few months and then gets an eviction notice. This process could take months. Once you have an eviction notice you could take it to the council.

I would be asking the landlord to pay the deposit for your next rental and a month's rent in order that they can sell and you can move on.

Surely this is just delaying the inevitable as hard as it sounds? It's better to start looking for somewhere.

It's an awful situation to be in tho abs I fully appreciate OP is upset and stressed as this happened to me once before I had kids -our then landlord had to sell as he was getting divorced and needed the money.

They gave us 2 months notice of their intention to sell (the contract said they'd have to give us 2 months regardless) but then the landlord said he was happy for me to stay there after the 2 months once the board went up if I agreed to facilitate viewings but once I knew I had to go I started looking. He marketed it as a place with a tennant in it but nobody wanted it as a buy to let.
I moved out after about 3 months there was no viewings during that last month and it stayed on the market a while but I found somewhere else I liked in the area so I moved.

I was upset tho it is hard but unfortunately it's one of the pitfalls of rentals.

If you have children I'm sure you would be a higher priority for social housing tho I'd contact your local authority on Monday and talk to someone.

Treacletoots · 22/01/2023 08:29

Sorry you're dealing with this shit situation OP. Sadly it's entirely due to the current government's position on landlords making the rental sector entirely hostile so almost half of all landlords have sold up in the past few years. Which is what I expect is the reason for him selling your home.

If they go ahead with the section 21 reforms and the mandatory EPC C rating you can expect even more leaving the sector, leaving to higher demand and higher rent.

Aside from contacting housing associations, local councils and even search Facebook groups for local private landlords, I'd also strongly suggest you speak to your local MP and make it clear to them that the reality of their continued attack on landlords is directly affecting people, like yourself.

Treacletoots · 22/01/2023 08:35

@AfraidToRun you're not soft and if I thought a financial incentive could help a tenant move on I'd also consider the same.

However... the reason OP can't find a suitable onward rental home is because of a sharp decline in supply of rental properties, brought about by a large proportion of landlords leaving the sector, after continuing attacks from tax, regulation, pointless local authorities registration schemes and more.

If the proposed legislation to ban s21 come into force you can expect a further decimation of the sector which will only harm tenants since landlords will simply invest their money elsewhere, but people will always require homes to rent.

LadyWithLapdog · 22/01/2023 08:45

You need to start looking in earnest so you have more options, rather than waiting for eviction and the first flat considered suitable by your LA. I think that would be the more stressful situation.