What does a 62 year old man on just above minimum wage do when served with section 21 eviction notice and cannot afford anything on the current rental market?

[Mxflamingnoravera]

I have a friend aged 62 who has been living in a pretty awful but liveable one bed flat for six years. He works full time in a call centre on little more than minimum wage. The flat was recently assessed by the local authority as part of a new local licensing scheme for private rental properties in our city. It needs a lot of work done on it and today he was served with a section 21 order because (he was told) the builders say it's too much work to have him stay there whilst the place is brought up to standard.

He has looked around an there is nothing under £900 a month in our city. He cannot afford this. He has no car and cycles everywhere. So he needs to live fairly close to his workplace.

He is devastated, he cannot live in a shared house at his age. He is a very private, shy man, has few friends and no family.

I'm at a loss to know how to help him. He cannot live with me, i have no space and do not want a lodger.

There is literally nothing affordable in our city. He is looking at homelessness in January. What happens to people like him?

He can also apply to the council for a Discretionary Housing Payment to cover the shortfall between the UC housing costs amount and the actual rent. This is sometimes for a limited period of time though, so important to confirm before he commits to a place. DHP can also help with deposit, moving costs etc

@Mxflamingnoravera yes I think he would fail. They tend to work on 40% max of income going on rent . This criteria doesn't apply with social housing and he would possibly get a small UC top up which would be taken into account

The private rental company's simply use outside referencing agencies with very fixed parameters

That's why I think it's more likely he should be going to the LHA and seeing if he can get an over55 place - the rent is more likely to be in the £500 to £720 range.

Hi Dave, does the number of hours he works make any difference? He is on a 40 hour week, not 37

No it doesn't matter, as long as he meets his commitment of 35 hrs per week as a single adult. The way it works is he would get his standard allowance and housing amount awarded then a deduction from that equivalent to 55% of his take home pay

@Crikeyalmighty Oh dear that is bad news, he is caught on a trap isn't he? He can get the money to pay the rent, but the landlords won't rent to him because some of it comes from UC. Bloody miserable. I could weep.

if your friend hasn’t registered with the council, he really needs to. It’s the starting point for anyone threatened with homelessness. Being over 60 will work in his favour. Can he take a day off work, and get to the housing office?

Get the pip form sent out as a paper copy. Its backdated to the date you request it. It's easier to fill in with plenty of time, not rushing via a computer. There are issues filling it out online too. And with a paper copy you get a couple of months to fill it out.

Shelter have said the S21 is in order. Also said he's probably going to have to stay in the private rented sector. Gave him some links to read.

@Winnading the DWP website says you have to apply for the form by phone.

When they said private rented did they mean as opposed to council housing? Were they including over 55s / housing association rentals as private? I really think that is the best option for him rather than renting from an individual landlord who can just evict him whenever it suits them.

If it's like attendance allowance forms which also come from the DWP you call up and ask them to send you the form and give your address. When it comes it's stamped with the date you called and, as long as you return the form within six weeks, your claim runs from the date you actually called rather than when they receive the form. So you get up to six weeks more money.

You have to phone to get the PIP form.

There are a few (maybe 10?) questions they ask on the phone to check you are eligible - are you a British citizen what's your address sort of thing.

The phone call to get the form is not too bad.

Have you looked at Almshouses? They're very often for the elderly and are not for profit rents.

I posted about Haig Housing at 7am today.

here is more information

https://www.haighousing.org.uk/properties/wyvern-villas-bs9/

He also needs to contact adult social care at Bristol Council. They can assess him for properties where additional support is available.

Yes but I promise you it's easier to fill out. It comes in less than a week and you get all the time you need. Its pretty gruelling. Even doing it online assuming it doesnt fail, not save , whatever other issues it has will not get him pip any quicker.

@daisychain01 sorry I missed this. I'll send it on to him.

I'm seeing him tomorrow I will be able to find out more. Today has just been a furry of texts. Thank you all so much🙏

Stay put until evicted and the council should help (don't leave before officially evicted by the courts) This happened to my neighbour, he stayed put and then was offered a council property (much nicer and cheaper than he would have ever found renting privately This all took around 9 months.

All the over 50s places seem to be on the north side of the city, it would triple his already long bike ride to work. Anyone who knows Bristol buses will know how hard it is to get across the city on the bus!

OP if he phones to make the PIP claim they will ask for certain basic information including his NI number. They will then send the form out for him to complete. It is quite a daunting form and there are often things which should be included which people who are not used to the PIP set up do not realise should be included.

When he gets the form I would suggest going to his local Citizens Advice as they will usually have someone who will be able to help him complete the form.

If they do award PIP it will be backdated to the date he made the claim by phone. He should be aware though that claims are currently taking at least 16 weeks . He should also try to get any medical evidence supporting his claim as soon as possible so that he can include it with the form.

This thread has moved me to tears as I cannot believe that we have come to this as a country and I am glad that your friend has you for support.

I have nothing worthwhile to add only that he is fortunate he has a friend in you for helping him by asking on here. Some people wouldn't be bothered.
It is shameful that he is in this position in this day and age, in this country at his time of life.

How does that work, is it area based?
I earn min wage plus a small commission (take home similar at £1700) but don't get UC as mortgage and no DC
So I just put everything in as if I was renting on those amounts and I would be entitled to nothing

Yes the housing amounts vary, you may be in area where the LHA rates are lower. Also if you are under 35 you would only be eligible for the shared accommodation rate, not the 1 bed rate

@DaveBingo ah ok, makes sense. I'm 40

People need more lovely friends like you.