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?

It will indeed get harder as he gets older. I've been hassling him to get onto HA lusts for years. This is going to spur him on to finally do this. Honestly. If you knew him you'd know why sharing is just not going to work. He just wouldn't cope.

Lists! Not lusts!

It’s a long process but even so years is pushing it.

6-9 months depending on court backlog and if paperwork is perfect.

He could try via the CAB/Shelter/Council try to push for alternative accommodation during works if he’s still within AST dates, or if the section 21 is invalid for reason like lack of Gas Cert/How to Rent guide/Deposit Cert.

This is pretty rude. I work in housing and there are lots of over 60s living in shared places. Needs must in a housing crisis. The housing crisis wan't created by Lovelydaytomorrow so maybe don't shoot the messenger. I was just talking to an international student living with a 65 yo man.

Shared is better than a B&B or homelessness, which were some of the other options. Or staying in the mould and vermin-infested place he currently lives until he's forcibly removed.

Older people are a steadily increasing proportion of the homeless and insecurely housed population. People want more single units but more family units, more affordable units but less taxation and no building. And to not have to understand the complicated international reasons behind the housing crisis.

He needs good advice.

I'm sorry if it came across as rude, but comparing his situation with a situation when one is twenty something is just not acceptable. I know if 60 somethings who happily share out of choice. But as I said, the likelihood of a house share choosing him is slight, he is (probably) on the spectrum and an intensely private and shy man. I doubt he'd get through the interview in a shared property.

Does he have MH issues or a disability of any type? Even if he did manage to get temporary housing then it could well be in a property with shared facilities. 🫤

I do t suppose he was ever in the armed forces?

I'm very grateful for the advice, but please don't assume that he is capable of sharing (he isn't). He has been bullied and mocked all his life because of his thick glasses, and his odd manner. He just wants to live out his life in privacy and peace.

He was in the forces yes but only briefly, he didn't fit.

He has scoliosis so his back is bent and he walks with a walking pole because of pain, but is not officially disabled.

I couldn't take him in, no I said I cannot. I'd hate it and I'd kick him out. I could not live with him, and do not have the space anyway.

How does one go about becoming officially disabled? He can cycle, but cannot walk any distance without a stick.

There is social housing available in Bristol for over 55s. Most people move in when they are quite elderly so units become vacant very frequently. It’s hard to find anyone to speak to at the council but he can apply online. It’s a different process to the regular housing application if I remember correctly.

@ReacherRach that is great to know, thanks. He has the info, I'll help him over the weekend.

I'd use the scatter method. Apply for anything he might be eligible for. Better to have it and not need it than vice versa. Many veterans charities work with anyone who has served, no matter how short. Over 55, veterans, CAB, Shelter, look at benefits, Council, even talk to social services and see if there's vulnerable adults provision (doubtful now but still).

Re: being recognised as disabled, you apply for PIP: https://www.gov.uk/pip

Bristol Law Centre may be able to check the eviction is legal and Talking Money should be able to help with a benefits check.
(They are next door to each other in the Old Market area of Bristol).

I think be careful of any advice advising him to stay until a court order, he could end up having to pay some costs and he won’t get a reference, and then it’s really dependent on the council’s situation whether they could house him. A Section 21 notice is enough to go to the Councils housing advice and get him on, I think it’s called a prevention of homelessness worker - they will be able to advise what the situation is like - whether it’s likely he could be housed by them or not. And also from shelter or another independent charity to get all angles covered. I’d also be looking at private accommodation - get on lists as sometimes small flats do come up if he’s prepared to consider different parts o the city.

Look at Anchor Housing. They have loads of properties for over 55s and usually have very reasonable rents.

I’m truly saddened to hear about this. However I couldn’t afford to rent in my area either. £1300 per month. Low wage. I don’t want to flat share. I want my own privacy. I’m shy. I’m an introvert. I’m socially awkward. I want my job to be at my doorstep. I want a promotion. I want a bigger kitchen. I want a rich husband. I want Brad Pitt.

But life doesn’t always go the way we want. So what what did I do? I suck it up. Ended up flat sharing for 7 years. Toilet was falling apart. No working hot water for years. Kept my head down. I endured living with people I didn’t get along. Saved just enough in those years to move out. Life IS hard. No one will truly pity you. If someone sympathise and help you than a friend in need is a friend indeed. I truly admire those who show kindness via action and help silently on the sidelines. No free lunch in this world.

Only voicing out truth. Housing is a real issue. There isn’t enough housing and that is not a single landlord or tenant issue. There multiple factors contributing to it. No one to blame here, just the situation. Having a stable life also requires years of planning, educating yourself and developing skills. There are lots of educational videos on YouTube, free courses online and inspiring stories told by hundreds of people. I truly admire them and I reflect on those lovely people.

I sincerely hope your friend gets it sorted out.

The Anchor housing suggestion is good. They have places like this complex in St Werburghs, which sounds like it could be ideal for him. https://www.anchor.org.uk/our-properties/penfield-court-bristol

Ok, so he is ex forces. Did his time in the armed forces have any effect on him that may mean that he could be considered vulnerable. If so then it may help increase which housing band he gets placed in.

He needs to speak to someone at the Council or at Shelter

Yes, indeed s@SingleMum11 I agree that all avenues is the best approach, but it would be good to see him settled somewhere where he can stay, where the landlord can't sell up etc on a whim. At his age he needs some security. He works hard and pays his rent and bills on time. Indeed he is a model tenant, wouldn't say boo to a goose and looks after where he lives.

And of course I know it's brutal out there. So does he, he's had years of it, he's not asking for pity, just somewhere decent to live where he can shut the door on the world. He's 62, not many years ago he'd be three years off state pension age. He's lived alone for nearly 20 years. He's not looking for wonderful, but he does need his own space. It's really not helpful for posters to say they've sucked up awful living conditions, so have, so has he. I'm really grateful for the constructive suggestions but please leave out the tales of living in shared accommodation unless you endured it in your sixties and can properly emphasise.

@GladWhere he didn't finish basic training... discovered art and went to art school. So I doubt he can "pull the ex foxes card" nor would he, he's v respectful of those who did serve much longer and had he stayed in he'd have endured The Falklands. He's grateful that he got out.

The place in St Werberghs looks lovely, it's probably too far to cycle everyday though. He works way out towards the airport. But I know he'll consider it ( I doubt he'd consider a job change though).

Wow, this is pretty rude! My FIL, 65 years old, lives in a shared house as he cannot afford to rent on how own. Lives with another 2 single people around the same age. Unfortunately it may need to be an option as much as he may not like it.