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?

You are a truly lovely person, Mx.

@whowhatwerewhy I reminded him about PIP " one thing at a time" was his response. I suppose it's fair enough, he's just come through the most incredibly stressful time, but if a PIP assessor had seem him at this point it would have been an easy case to make.

*put my foot down not fur! Although I could feel my hackles rising as he moaned when I said no to driving cross town in Saturday traffic to IKEA for curtains.

That’s great news! Well done OP. If only everyone had a friend like you to help. Enjoy your well earned rest.

You've gone above and beyond for him and he needs to get himself sorted now. Moving house is stressful at the best of times so I guess he, like you, needs a couple of days to relax.

So glad he's moved . It will probably take you both a few weeks to de stress from it . It might take him a little while to put his personal stamp on his new place but I believe he's still on sick leave so will have time to do it .
Hopefully his deposit will be returned with no issues and he becomes well enough to return to work , giving him back his identity .
He needs to try and embrace his new community and attend social gatherings he's invited to , he can then build up a support group and will even be able to help his new neighbours.

Thanks for the update. You've been a smashing friend to him, he's very lucky to have you. Glad he's all sorted now.

If he is going to struggle with the rent could he look at Alms houses? He should meet the criteria.

OP
I think it's all going to be ok

It will be ok and that's brilliant

I am so glad that this gentleman has been treated with the respect he deserves by the HA and finally moved into a decent home.
So glad for both of you that this is a happy ending. As OP said there are so many awful things people are having to go through and so stressful. I hope your friend can settle peacefully and breathe again. And your kindness is a blessing OP Happy New Year.x

Good to read the updates. You have been a great friend to him. Now take some time for yourself.

More news! He's claimed housing benefit and he's going to get 25% of the new rent! So he's going to be better off than when living in the rat hole. Oh and he got his full deposit back. So he's feeling upbeat and returning to work next week.

Oh marvellous news. So glad everything is working out.

I hope you've managed some time for yourself, to destress from it all

That's great news. Onwards and upwards for your friend.

That's brilliant. Glad it's worked out.

@Mxflamingnoravera that's very good news indeed- and well done to you too for helping him to sort-

Amazing! Lovely to hear good news.

What a lovely update, so pleased for him .

@Mxflamingnoravera thank you for the update! Great result after all your hard work.

So he has much better living conditions, a secure long term tenancy and more money in his pocket. Really pleased for him.

Hopefully his commute to work is not too onerous from the new location but even if it is more difficult he will only have a few years of it before he can hopefully retire and getting long term security and in terms of where he lives and decent living conditions is something he really needed.

The housing benefit is a great outcome, icing on what was already a good cake

You've been a fantastic friend to this gentleman. I'm really glad that "the vipers' nest" were able to help.

Great news to realise that there is some hope in the current dire circumstances! 😀

Whether or not he appreciates your efforts or not, the good karma you created is…. You’re a hero in my book.

OP are you aware of the new UK government sponsored Military Veteran card which unlocks a load of discounts and support for former military.

You can apply on line

https://www.gov.uk/veteran-card

Here's how your friend can use it for rail and travel discounts, discounts at over 12000 outlets etc

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-a-veteran-card-as-a-service-leaver