4 weeks to find somehwere else to live - Help!

limp-squid

Ok I really need some advice - Me and hubby are in a pickle.
Bear with me this may be a long one, and before you start saying 'shouldn't have done that' we know ok, but we still need help.

Me and hubby are currently living in a council house which is registered to someone else, been here for 2 months. Current tenant is a family friend who no longer needed the house but its so nice and we needed to move to a house with a lower rent due to my business dropping off substantially.

Originally we were going to try and take it over by getting hubbys name on rent book with current tenant, as if they were partners and then after a period of time, get her name taken off and then just keep on - but being the main tenant.
Unfortunately this hasn't worked out because of issues surrounding the original tenants benefits and her ex partner. Hubby went to council who just said basically that he's not lived in house long enough to take on the tenancy.

Whats happened is that before we had chance to get hubbys name on rent book, the current tenant has had to give notice on the property, meaning we only have 4 weeks to find somewhere else to live....

This is made worse by the fact, as i mentioned i run a small business as a sole trader but its almost completely dropped off due to the current economic situation, and to be honest, might have to consider knocking it on the head and trying to get a job - but this is not ideal due to health concerns.


So basically we have no debt, but we have almost no money, are going to be homeless in 4 weeks and my business is going down the pan.

We just don't know where to turn or what to do.

We just really need some advice about what to do...

Please help.

Premier_2

So your friend was granted a council tenancy, presumably because the council thought she was in need of such a tenancy.

Your friend then didn't want the council property anymore and so rather than give it back to the council, gave it to you so no need for you to prove whether you are actually entitled to one or not and no need for you to wait the years on a waiting list even if you were entitled. Meanwhile some poor desperate person has been homeless hoping a council property might become available soon.

... and now you are being kicked out of a house you had no right to in the first place and you want help?

Hmmm...new user too...I should have guessed!
Perhaps the grass is greener on the other side

PinkTwirl

limp-squid wrote: »

Ok I really need some advice - Me and hubby are in a pickle.
Bear with me this may be a long one, and before you start saying 'shouldn't have done that' we know ok, but we still need help.

Me and hubby are currently living in a council house which is registered to someone else, been here for 2 months. Current tenant is a family friend who no longer needed the house but its so nice and we needed to move to a house with a lower rent due to my business dropping off substantially.

Originally we were going to try and take it over by getting hubbys name on rent book with current tenant, as if they were partners and then after a period of time, get her name taken off and then just keep on - but being the main tenant.
Unfortunately this hasn't worked out because of issues surrounding the original tenants benefits and her ex partner. Hubby went to council who just said basically that he's not lived in house long enough to take on the tenancy.

Whats happened is that before we had chance to get hubbys name on rent book, the current tenant has had to give notice on the property, meaning we only have 4 weeks to find somewhere else to live....

This is made worse by the fact, as i mentioned i run a small business as a sole trader but its almost completely dropped off due to the current economic situation, and to be honest, might have to consider knocking it on the head and trying to get a job - but this is not ideal due to health concerns.


So basically we have no debt, but we have almost no money, are going to be homeless in 4 weeks and my business is going down the pan.

We just don't know where to turn or what to do.

We just really need some advice about what to do...

Please help.

Hi,

Welcome to the board, I hope things work out for you soon. Is there any amount of rent that you can afford to pay at the moment?

I really do wish you luck and I hope someone will have soon good advice for you soon.

PasturesNew

Do what anybody else would do: start looking for somewhere else to live that's as cheap as possible and move out.

I'd suggest you look for a studio flat in the first instance. Just go in for 6 months while you get your heads sorted.

You really want a private landlord, no big agency fees and credit checks. Look on gumtree and google for "studio flat to let" or "studio to let".

pinkshoes

The 4 weeks isn't a problem. I had just 2 weeks to find somewhere when I moved to most places I've lived!

Firstly, get onto estate agents, and look on rightmove.co.uk at rental properties. Is it just the 2 of you? Because surely a 1 bed flat or studio apartment would be enough for now? How much would that be? Could you borrow some money for the first month rent?

limp-squid

Thanks very much for your reply Premier.

She had lived in the house for quite a number of years, and we are on the list - but obviously not 'priority' in terms of their criteria.

Faced with not being able to pay next months rent on the privately rented property we were in, or try what we now know was not the 'right thing to do' we tried moving into this house out of desperation.

You can look down on us all you like, but were not spongers - never been on benefits either of us. We've just fallen on harder times.

Just because its our first post - is this an issue?
We've lurked on this forum for years and everyones got to start somewhere right?

Came to this forum for help and advice, and yes maybe we've not done the 'right thing'. Maybe this wasn't the best board on this forum for advice.

Thanks.

PasturesNew

Ultimately, if you want to go through pain, you could just claim squatters rights and wait for a court order to officially turf you out.

Going down this route is unlikely to get you anything except bad feeling and pain though. The council won't see you as a priority, no kids. So they'd just probably find you a local B&B, or stick a copy of the paper in your hand.

You need to really grow some backbone and just crack on and find somewhere else. You tried to defraud the council housing list, but got defrauded by a bigger slimeball.

So, this is your action list:
- get the local papers, classifieds
- check shop windows for places to rent
- look online for somewhere to move to
- sort out your stuff and pack
- leave with your tail between your legs into your new place

Your priority needs to be a roof over your head, so you'd best crack on and sort that out.

This is your main business now: The Business of Real Life.

indianropetrick

If you have absolutely no other alternatives at all such as staying with family or friends, sounds as if you'll just have to inform the council that you'll be homeless from the date of your eviction.

You'll have your circumstances assessed, and the council will likely provide you with temporary accomodation when you depart the flat. You'll then be on the list for an indeterminate time before you are offered permanent accomodation.

poppysarah

Ring the council. Tell them you're sleeping on the floor at a friends and are being made homeless. (You are ...)

limp-squid

Thanks pasturesnew - but if you'd read my posts properley you'd see the part where i said we're not spongers - we just fell on hard times and did something out of desperation, so the squatters rights path is not feasible.

You can call it defrauding the council housing list all you like - thats your opinion and whilst we appreciate your advice - your opinion is just that.

tripled

The only thing I can suggest, if you don't have the funds, is to try to get a very cheap room or bedsit somewhere. If that isn't an option, notify the council you will be homeless within 28 days, as this may move you up the list.

I would also recommend you do a benefits check up and see if you are entitled to any help.