rent problems

paul10mm

HI
Hope some one can help we have lived in a rented house last 18 months been very happy there but know as we are about to go bankrupt landlord will not extend our let so we are caught in the crossfire.
We cant have our deposit back £1200 until we leave but know one will rent us a property with out our deposit!Plus we need someone as a refrence to make sure we pay we did have someone but they have know decided they dont want to be involved with a bankrupt so we are in big trouble my local council wont help they say i have made myself homless so they wont help me!
We both work and take home £2k a month but its all pointless if we cant have somewere for our 2 children to live!

angeluk69_2

I have sort of been in this position apart from the bankruptcy bit. Last feb I was made homeless by my MIL with my 2 children, obviously i was scared stiff, because i don't work and have no income. :eek:
I got in touch with a local scheme housing and went and spoke to someone in the 'homelessness' team they listened to everything i had to say and gave me loads of great info, including getting my self on as many housing lists as possible and also a scheme where they help you out with getting into a rented property. :T

They help with initial deposit and first months rent and then when youget deposit back you pay the HA back. It's much like a loan to get you started.

Also you could try the Job centre and ask about Crisis loans.

Unfortunatley, bankruptcy does affect many things and I don't know the ins and outs of the whol;e process, are you sure you should really go bankrupt?
Especially as it will affect you for the next 6 years at least.

HTH, and although I dont know the facts, I know what it is like to be scared of having no roof over your head, if the worse comes, HA's can put you into a hostel until you get ur deposit back then you find somewhere to live.

silvercar

Maybe post on the "get out of debt board"; there might be experts in there.

If you are not behind with your rent, why does your landlord want you out? Can't you claim housing Benefit and arrange for your landlord to be paid directly?

paul10mm

We have no idea why they want us out we are up to date with all the bills and they have told us they cant belive how much care we take of there house they even told us we are there best tennants!
I can only presume because the bankruptcy would show this address they dont want it?
strange bit is last 2 tennants run off !!!

myfairlady

Im so sorry to hear your predicament....Not sure how you have approached the owners but why not call a meeting (sometimes a face to face meeting can be more effective than letters/phone calls) and ask them why they will not extend your lease? I'm not suggesting you beg or anything but if you have been good tenants they may change their mind.

Good luck.

zeddy_2

Hi,

Basically the Council are saying you made yourself homeless because at the moment you still have place to call home (even though your landlord has said he won't renew your tenancy). The best advice I can offer is for you to go and speak to your local Citizens Advice Bureau, someone who specialises in housing in your area. They will possibly advise you to stay in the house even when your tenancy ends and let the landlord have to go to the point of taking legal action because then you are legitamately homeless - madness I know.

Some charities and local councils offer a scheme where you can be lent your deposit to get into private rented accomodation (basically becuase it means one less to house themselves) - you need to look closely into this. Look on the internet and try and find all the homeless charities in your area and get adivce from them. They will know directly what help you can get in your area and you won't be alone.

Good luck, hopefully it'll all be sorted out for you sooner rather than later.

galileo

Firstly check that they have validly served you with a notice to quit. Assuming your lease is an assured shorthold tenancy they need to give you at least 2 months (assuming this is what it says in the agreement - check the notice period).

Have they validly effected service - there is a Court of Appeal decision which suggests that service by post will be ineffective unless this mwethod of service is specifically provided for in the agreement. Otherwise they must effect personal service. You could try and dig your heels in and just stay there.

If your agreement is Assured Shorthold (and I suspect it will be) the above tactic can only buy you more time. If however, you have eg an Assured tenancy, you have a higher degree of security of tenure.