Homeless in a few weeks time!

[SleepyTinker]

Hello, we are a family of 4 (couple, 4yr old and an 8 yr old) renting privately a 3 bedroom house in Romford. Recently my LL decided to sell it although we were promised they were looking for some "long term" tenants. Now looking at the horrible housing situation, it's near to impossible to find another 3 bed property or a 2 bed property within £1500 budget in my area. Me n my husband both are working and earning close to 36k and claiming UC but most (almost all) landlords doesn't count benefits as an income or would like to rent to tenants claiming benefits so this is another issue although we've been actively searching for properties to rent. My job and my children's school are based close to my house, so we cannot afford to go too far away from this area. This is the first time that we will be facing homelessness, I am unsure of the process if anyone can guide us (mostly timeframe wise). As soon as we have our eviction notice we'll be contacting our lbbd council, what will be the next step from them?

-If it's a temporary accommodation, any idea how long that's gonna be?

-Will they prioritise us to be closer to our area/job/ children's school?

-what does temporary accommodations actually looks like? B&B ? Hostels?

-how are priority bands alloted?

-Anyone have any personal experience with our borough or neighbouring would be much appreciated.

We have so many questions and are honestly very scared for everything, please be kind as we're already suffering from something we didn't actually called upon ourselves. LL decided to sell out suddenly, we were always paying in rent before due and even the property has been kept in an immaculate condition. Hoping to hear something positive ✨ thanks xx

Hey I Just read your post I am in the same position with two kids living in London I'm gettinh evicted section 21 bailiffs are coming next Thursday I'm worried and stressed out I have app with my housing advisor she said she putting me through to temporary accommodation which could be a b&b or hotel flat maby not sure just so stressed out about the whole situation

Oh and I also work near where I live my housinh advisor said they do consider that if your working I also have pets

I'm sorry you are both dealing with homelessness. Could you ring around EA's and ask them to contact you as soon as something comes in before it gets advertised on their website? If you stay until bailiffs come and there is a court order against you you'll find it almost impossible to find another rental property. However the council will try not to give you temporary accommodation and tell you to stay until you are actually evicted and some councils will claim you make yourself homeless if you leave before eviction. You need to seek advice from Shelter. They will advise what to do in your area. I hope you find something soon.

@caringcarer I will contact shelter , thank you for your response 😊

I’m so sorry to read this

I think the rental market is in a bit of a crisis at the moment and many landlords who were planning on keeping properties, have had to make the decision to sell.

With changes in legislation, mortgage rate increases and general cost of living costs, many landlords are selling up.

i hope you find something soon x

Can you really claim UC with a household income of 72k? Even so, have you tried approaching landlords as I would have thought your salary would be enough to meet the rent anyway (and therefore do you even need to mention the benefits)

I assumed total household income £36k, not each. I could be wrong!

I'm sorry that you're feeling n this position OP. It's crazy that a family with two working adults are priced out of basic accommodation. I hope you find a resolution soon.

In which case op should focus on both adults securing full time employment so that they have more housing options available to them

I'm a housing officer for my local LA. Your first step should be to your LA to get the ball rolling as the sooner they are aware the more quickly a plan can be put in place and you can register for social housing. You will likely be placed into a priority band for risk of homelessness if the notice issued is legal and valid (they will check this). You may be advised to stay put until your LL applied and is granted a possession order via the court to buy some extra time. In the meantime you will be able to bid for social housing properties but depending on availability it may be possible that you won't be successful before the order is granted. Should that happen they yes temporary accommodation will be explored. Where I am we are reluctant to place in B&B families and this is always a last resort and we work with some private landlords that offer short term leases until you are rehoused via the housing register. Work and schools are taken into account placements.

Contacting Shelter is also a good shout for assistance.

Hi, I have been though eviction twice, my evictions up until bailiff came. Took around 6 months in all.

Firstly the council will try homeless intervention. So contact your landlord and try see if he chill let you stay abd help you look for other private rents.

If that does not work on day of eviction you will be put into emgency accommodation. After 56 ish days they will offer full duty assuming you have not made yourself homeless. You will then be moved to longer term temporary accommodation. Or your emgency accommodation could become your long term temporary. Just the paper work changes .

They don't normally tell you where your going to be until day of eviction of you meet the criteria for in borough need they should put you as close as possible. But it can be upto 90 mins.

Council won't tell you this but depending on your income they will store your belongings you pay a deposit and then a small amount each week to keep your belongings in storage.

When I was evicted I had all our stuff put into storage the day before our eviction and just slept on an old mattress /blow up bed. On the day I just took clothes and paperwork etc . It saves alot of stress on the actual day . No being watched by bailiffs etc.

The actual temporary accommodation mine have always been self contained flats or houses . But they are not very nice at all. But I have heard some of them can be lovely.

@Autumnleavesss, fine but that isn't going to help in the short term is it?

No advice OP, but I'm becoming hyper-aware of the shitty housing situation in London, and I want to sending you hope, hugs and .

I completely disagree. If I were facing homelessness I would do everything possible to increase my income - and that isn't difficult when you are only working part time. The higher the household income, the greater the number of possibilities. If op was homeless in a few days I agree it wouldn't help in the short term but by the time she is actually out of the property she could easily have secured full time employment

If you’re going through an agency you need proof of earnings, not how many hours you work. That usually includes at least 6 months worth of wage slips

Normally there is a reason someone works part time. They don't do it because they just love being paid less

Hey OP, I work with local authority homelessness team but mainly for asylum seeking families.

Just a point about location, whilst there is an effort to remain in a close-ish distance to schools, sometimes it just doesn't pan out that way.

However, our education department at the LA provides taxi's for 28 days if families have moved due to this kind of thing. I'd suggest speaking with your children's school to give them the heads up, and see if anything like this is available.

If not, I'd get a plan B. Great if you drive but if not, start thinking about short term solutions such as family that could potentially help out for a few weeks.

@Autumnleavesss minimum wage is £18,964 a year for people over the age of 23 who are working full time/ 35 hours a week. The idea that everyone can just 'get a better paid job' is the sort of cruel nonsense spouted by privileged, heartless people who have never faced any financial difficulties.

So sorry OP. We have some friends in the same situation, it’s really horrible. I hope you get a secure home very soon.

In terms of household income they are around the 30-40% mark

Low but not obscenely low

So whilst saying "earn more " I think sone realism is needed

People close to average should be able to afford a home and by very definition not everyone can earn more than average

I hate the word (just) anyway totally agree thete are familys working full time who are facing eviction

have you looked into the possibility that you might be able to get a mortgage and buy the house from the landlord yourself? Of course that might be an impossibility, but just mentioning it in case it is a solution that has not occured to you.

Advertise that you are hunting for accommodation in the school newsletter and local parish church newsletters.
Sometimes people like to rent out to locals or by word of mouth.

Also contact your MP it’s the governments policies that have caused landlords selling up the more people look at the real issues - government policy section 24 section 21 abolition unfair tax laws lack of social homes build etc the more these ministers are forced to look at real people in real need the better.

Really can't deal with silly comments like this. Do you not think op has thought of all avenues so far. She already said she can't afford more than 1500 per month in rent. If she had savings for a mortgage deposit then she wouldn't have an issue renting somewhere else surely.