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?

I think it is unethical to get a diagnosis just for housing. My DS is severely autistic and it would affect the availability of housing for people like him.

It sounds like this guy might be severely autistic too. Your son was just born in the age where it's more readily recognised. This man is just as deserving of help, if he's autistic, as your son.

he needs to:
Apoly for home choice plus or similar in your area, this will give him a banding which decides how high the list he comes when it comes to bidding for property. He needs to make sure he ticks the over 55 box as they get higher priority. Supported living would be ideal for him, and they have more availability generally, it could be a home for the rest of his life.
Apply for PIP due to his back issues, with the help of CAB though as it is a tricky form and tricky process. He also needs to ask about housing benefit and any top up benefits he may get such as UC. Cab will do a benefit check, get a face to face appointment.
the council should offer him support should he need it with applying for social housing.
CAB ,could also look at grants to help him move for example or white goods should he need them.
maybe speak with a social prescriber at the GP surgery, at our things there bread and butter type patient, he could get a nice hand hold and advice through that. I hope he gets settled soon, it’s tough times out there.

I would also check out his salary, are they paying him the minimum wage and is his tax code correct

If he was working a 40 hour week I would have thought that he should be coming out with around £1500 per month less his pension (which he might be able to cash in a little of to help him out if need be)
On £1500 per month he should be able to get somewhere for £900 and that would leave him £600 per month for bills, food etc
I think it would be doable if he budgets

@readingwalker my son could never live on his own and has minimal language. So no, I seriously doubt he’s the same as the gentleman described - and I seriously doubt he’s just been diagnosed because it’s easier now! I find that really objectionable and it still stands - it’s immoral and unethical to be pushing diagnosis in order to gain housing points. Pretty disgusting to be honest.

Could look at Sanctuary Housing, it does seem to cover Bristol. I'm the other side of the country but the group of flats my mother in law lived in was covered by them and it worked well.

@Mxflamingnoravera - The consumer rights champion Matt Alwright is going to be talking about Section 21 evictions on Morning Live at 9:15 this morning. Might be worth trying to tune in to see if there is anything of use to your friend.

Both issues coexist though. It's important to talk about both sides of the inequality

https://www.bristolcharities.org.uk/housing/john-fosters-almshouse/

Your son sounds like mine. Mine can't hold down employment either. My son is in his 20s. There is a world of difference in the recognition of autism between the 90s and now. There are many people in this man's generation being diagnosed now because they didn't have the opportunity when they were younger. Often because it is recognised in their grandchildren first.

This man wouldn't be getting diagnosed to get access to housing particularly. He would be getting diagnosed to gain access to the help and supports he is entitled to, if he is autistic. He is not less deserving because he is older.

I am 62 also, my comments are about my friend not about over 60s generally, at all times I am only referring to him and his needs and not older people generally. It is not agist or disableist to suggest that my friend who I know well would not cope in shared accommodation. The description of a double bed and a chair and a bathroom would be enough to trigger him into despair. He has a lifetimes' worth of possessions, a washing machine, a fridge, two bicycles, art work, chairs, double bed, tables and other furniture etc. his current flat is unfurnished, he has furnished it. Does he have to lose all his possessions along with his dignity?

What have we come to that we expect a working adult who has lived alone and wishes to continue living alone has to move into a room where he cannot bring his possessions, where he has to sleep on someone else's bed in someone else's home? It breaks my heart.

I'm fully aware that sharing may be his only option, I'm trying to help him avoid it. If it happens it will be a fast route to depression and giving up. He is struggling enough with his self esteem without having to cope with this. So please stop suggesting that because you know someone for whom it works, that it would work for him. It would NOT.

A room is not a bed sit, a bed sit has cooking facilities, his current flat is little more than a bed sit and he has stayed because it has given him privacy and a sense of control of his life. He loves to cook, food is one of his key pleasures, a shared kitchen would take this away from him. We possibly all know people who love or thrive in shared living, he is not one of them, he is not going to change.

He is not looking for the moon on a stick. He just wants to be treated with some dignity.

Huge thanks to posters who have made some great suggestions and some reassuring advice about over 55's waiting lists. He will be grateful. I will be cutting out the suggestions of rooms in shared accommodation and suggestions of becoming a lodger. He know that these loom, right now he is doing his best to not have to be forced into those. He's heading to work early to use his work computer (he doesn't have one- just a smart phone) so he can read all the stuff I've sent him as a result of all the helpful suggestions here (shelter, local authority, alms houses, HA over 55's etc) and complete all the forms he needs to fill in that do not work on a phone.

He has asked me to thank you and has a hope that this notice will result in a long term solution instead of the insecurity of private rented.

We can't all live where and how we want. I want to live in a mansion surrounded by servants (serving me, not as part of the staff!)

He's 62 not 104 If he cannot afford to live alone, then he can be a lodger, or go into a house share. Yes its not ideal for him, but it's what it is.

I'd advise asking his GP surgery for an appt with their social prescriber, they should know all the local support, housing options, charities, etc. And may be able to, or can refer to someone who can, support him to apply for suitable benefits eg PIP (6-9 month wait to hear if application was successful and to get any money). Also might be able to apply for a Blue Badge for him if eligible.
Agree with others, forces charities could definitely help.
He needs to be proactive.

It would help him with other things too. I have support workers who help me with tasks of daily living because I cannot manage on my own. If your son is more severely autistic eg with learning disabilities he would not be applying for the same housing supply.
It's not a competition.

@LookItsMeAgain what radio station is this please? I'll tune in, I'm not at work today (it's my day for visiting my elderly mother in her care home).

I would suggest to him to go for what is affordable for now e.g. small room in shared house and save like fury so afford deposit for something more up his street etc. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and just get on with things however you feel about them

He takes home £1700 a month.

@RB68 he has a deposit, it's the rent he can't afford.

So OP there are four strands to follow:

1 Getting sound advice on what to do at the end of his tenancy re leaving, not making himself intentionally homeless etc

2 Getting his name on as many lists of over 55s and council housing as possible. Possibly getting an adult social work or CAB to help him identify all options.

3 Look at increasing income through UC or PIP.

4 Making sure he has all accurate medical diagnoses re his disabilities including scoliosis, mental health and potentially autism if relevant.

It sounds like his current home is not a pleasant environment so, even though it is stressful now, hopefully in a few months he will be in a much better condition home with more long term security. I wish him all the best.

Absolutely. If I am ever in the position of having to go back to shared accommodation my mental health would plummet. I did it as a student and in my early 20s as a necessity but as soon as I could afford to rent a small studio flat I did. I need my own space. Even now as a wife and mother, when I’m on my own I relax properly. I know people who are older and share and it works well for them, but I absolutely would not want to do it and mental health is just as important as physical health. You said in your OP that he couldn’t do shared. You were clear.

Your friend, as a full time employee should be able to afford a one bedroom flat and it’s the sign of a broken system that he can’t. We need a massive shift in policy. But it will take decades sadly as so much of this country’s wealth is concentrated in a very small section of society, some of whom will do everything in their power to maintain that status quo.

When did greed become a desirable quality in a human being? I’m angry for your friend OP and all the other people I meet at work on a regular basis who work themselves, literally, into an early grave to make profits for others, who can barely afford a basic standard of living. It boils my blood. It is unevolved and regressive.

Hi how much does he pay at the moment? X

In the UK, with all options for self improvement, if he can only earn minimum wage at his age then he has to face reality. Bristol has an acute housing shortage. Unless he tries 55+ housing, he will have to go for a shared house. I would prefer a quiet introverted lodger over a party animal.

@singlemum11 because of other disability
I have great difficulty typing but I made the effort to do so on this thread because I have compassion for an older man in this position. It was hard for me to look up charities to help him but I did because I care.
Please don't attack me for wanting to help someone. As you said your son will not be able to live alone so will require a completely different housing situation.
I won't be coming back to this thread as I am extremely upset at having my attempts to help someone thrown back in my face.
OP good luck to you and your friend. I wish him all the best.

Another thing to consider, if he's in an area that is expensive and has a housing shortage, is there any option to relocate to a cheaper part of the country?

I wouldnt rule out shared accomodation, my friend had to flee an abusive relationship and ended up in a HMO but it was nice! Big old building with a grand hotel feel, nice room en suite, only had to share the kitchen. Not the end of the world, esp if the alternative is the streets!!