Potentially Intentionally homeless with 3yr old and newborn on way!

[cutiepie78]

Hi everyone,

Please no judgment as I'm really struggling with my mental health atm.
I got served a section 8 due to rent arrears from a few years ago, I got into these arrears after I split with my child's father and couldn't afford the rent alone. The house is also in severe disrepair with black mould so bad my son has severe asthma in hospital regularly and has a permanent inhaler twice a day. My private landlord has refused all payment plans I try to arrange and refuses to complete works in property. I haven't had a working fire alarm or carbon monoxide monitor since I moved in 4 years ago. Environmental health served him a improvement notice after 4 years of attempting to get him to do works and after he's been given court warrant he's now served me a eviction notice. Council are pushing I am intentionally homeless and that they will refer to social services and I'm terrified of what's about to happen. My 3 year old is severely autistic with high sensory processing and I have a baby due in 4 weeks. What could happen if they refer to social services? I have no family support and no one I could stay with if worst came to it, but I can't lose my children it wasn't my fault, I repeatedly asked the council to help me find a cheaper private rent which they refused and I told my landlord I couldn't afford the flat several times. If I lose my children I'll have nothing left. Any advice would be much appreciated. My local mp has wrote me a supporting letter showing how she worked with me to sort out the property and that I had been trying to get help.

Thanks

Sorry you are in this situation. They are just referring you because you have children and they may be able to offer additional assistance to you with accommodation. The council should be helping you find alternative accommodation during your prevention and relief stage as per the housing reduction act. Intentionality would not be considered until you have been evicted and the council have failed to find you alternative accommodation via the private sector so I would be pushing for help with that - they should have a private rented procurement team and be able to refer you to properties. Don't panic about social services, they won't take your children they will just see whether you fit the criteria for help from them.

Have you spoken to Shelter? If the LL has not fulfilled statutory obligations it may invalidate the notice. Having said that it sounds as if moving is preferable.

I cannot see them taking your children off you simply for housing - foster care is expensive and in very short supply, especially when there's autism in the mix.

There's some information on intentional homelessness here - if you genuinely couldn't afford the rent then in most cases you shouldn't be deemed intentionally homeless.
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homelessness/intentionally_homeless

There's more info on what happens if you're intentionally homeless with a child - the SS referral is completely routine and can result in SS helping directly with your housing.
england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/homelessness_applications/intentional_homelessness/welfare_of_children_in_intentionally_homeless_households