Landlord evicting us

[Mummyof2asd]

Hi I have renting in a property for 5 years the land lord has told us we have to be out by February as he is selling. I’m a carer for my two autistic children, my husband and Is self employed but doesn’t earn a great wage, we are on universal credits. My son after a year out of school and severe anxiety got into a Sen school a few months ago and he is like a different childhood been doing so well, I’m so scared he will have to leave his school. This property was with a private landlord a friend of a friend . so the rent was really cheap. We can’t afford to rent on one wage, plus estate agents will not accept just my husband‘s wage as income. Would I be entitled to help from the council? I just don’t no what to do so worried. My other son was due to start the same Sen school in September feel so gutted it was such a fight to get them in.Their both autistic and on DLA high rate care . Any advise would be great. I suffer from anxiety and this is making me really really anxious and worried. Obviously renting you have to expect this but just been such a hard couple of years with my child’s diagnosis and constant fights for school. My child have a lot of needs they do not sleep so I don’t sleep I can’t even think straight atm, they are very pound, meltdowns , throw things been lucky with neighbours that they understand this as we aren’t the quietest
a neighbours so imagining being in a flat with my two ASD children terrifies me as of how pound they can be when stimming ect or melt downs . Feel so drained and clueless what to do, feel I have let my child down so much but not providing them a home if their own . Sorry if this don’t make sense or for spelling and grammar. Writing this through tears I’m just so fearful .

Don’t ask him for a section 21 just yet - wait till closer to the time and then you will start the clock from then. It’s an awful situation for you and I really sympathise.

Look at it this way, OP: in your family’s situation being in council housing would be a godsend. The process to get there will be stressful and difficult, but it will be worth it. In your shoes I wouldn’t try to find another private landlord, especially as you’ve been paying a lot less than market rent and would really struggle to increase that. This is your opportunity to get secure accommodation for your children. Focus on that and do what you have to do, jump through the hoops etc, to get there.

In my area families are housed by the council in old hotels, they’ve been there well over a year some of them. This is after sitting out the section 21 notice waiting to be evicted. They’re stuck. Even if they find a private rental no landlord will take them as they have previously been evicted by bailiffs and they have no reference.

Its all very well people banging on about Shelter but they are the ones who created this shit show.

The hoops might involve living in a hotel room for years so be aware of that before trying to make being evicted sound like a good option.

Couldn't agree more, with all of it, and yes Shelter have indeed been instrumental in this shit show.

I suspect the initial contact from the landlord is just a heads up, in this case. It'd be pretty harsh to leave OP to get an eviction notice through the post with no warning, given that she's the friend of a friend.

What if the landlord wants to use the flat for himself or his family members? Is he then allowed to ask the current renters to leave?

Yes

There is unfortunately some quite poor advice on this thread, some good though too including contacting Shelter.

Not all Courts have a huge backlog. This maybe the experience for a lot of LLs but it is very regional. You won’t be evicted straightaway though and your LL will have to serve you with a Section 21 first.

Also check with your local Council Housing Department to see at what point they will become involved.

Ours will want you to have been served with a notice of eviction before they will house you but some will start to talk to you earlier in the process.

Shelter are the ones who caused this and are hammering home the message to refuse to leave. They don’t tell you about the knock on effects of that though do they?

No I do agree. The housing that the OP might be offered by the Council might be a hotel room. I can’t imagine how they would cope with 4 of them, the 2DC being ND.

I’m not sure the OP has many options at this point though? Maybe she could approach the Council? Ours may offer the deposit needed for private rent. I’m either whether they have the capacity to earn more? Rent is again regional. You could just about afford private rent if you were lucky in the nearest city but it’s not going to be one of the better areas. Where I live there are very, very few rental properties coming up and they are all out of the price range for anyone in benefits or a low income.

that remains valid grounds for serving a possession notice

This

Yes, offer to pay market rent. It could change his mind. Fingers crossed.

Thanks everyone, and yes we did offer more rent but he said the new regulations coming out for landlords he just wants out basically.

I know this is a longshot but would he possibly sell to you on some sort of rent-to-own arrangement?

I just feel so bad for you, due to the schools and such. Hope you find a solution soon.

I would be utterly amazed if a private landlord, already looking to exit the rental market, would even consider a rent to buy arrangement.

It is not illegal for them to do so, but as they have already said their reason for leaving is "wants out", they are hardly likely to enter into an unregulated and high risk proposal like that, and arguably even more foolish for the tenant to do so.

I doubt that would happen with two disabled children.

Anyway, in general, OP, ring your local council and ask for advice. Ask what the likely next steps would be in your situation. You might not be in an area where families with disabled kids are housed in hotels for years. It’s really very area-dependant, so give them a ring and ask. Asking won’t count against you in any shape or form.

When we were evicted, we were put in a temporary house until we could bid for a council house. Hopefully your LA is the same but you can always ask them. I think they will have to take into account your sons issues before housing you so that might go in your favour.

Thanks everyone really appreciate all your advice and help ❤️

Really? Then you would be wrong. Where exactly do you think the council are going to magic homes up from? They haven’t got any, so the current “solution” in most areas is hotel rooms.