Right This Is My Story

AllNancy

tbs624 wrote: »

Sorry that you felt my comment was unfair Nancy, but could only go on what you had posted up to that point. The problem is that you have the full picture plus the prequel in your head and the rest of us don't.

Hope you manage to get some good professional guidance so that you can move this forward.

Thankyou. It's been a dreadful five months or more and a maelstrom of emotions, Trying to protect the boys from it all has been very difficult particularly as he was playing mind games with them so I am ultra sensitive at the moment.

SIL and Daughter have worked so hard for so long and to finish up with nothing? And it still isn't over. Sorry if I was touchy.

Nancy

JMV

AllNancy wrote: »

Spoken to all of them. When I am homeless the council may then do something. I am not entitled to any benefits. Local Housing Associations come under the umbrella of the Council, any outside that you have to have a link with that area. I taught in another area for ten years, means nothing.

Going to look at a house on Friday.

Nancy

Hello Nancy....I just wanted to say that I wish you well...and also to mention that, if your SIL has made any threats towards you it's worth mentioning to the housing department, as they would have a duty to rehouse you immediately..."Threats or fear of violence" and the complicated famillial relationship of tenant to Landlord may have some bearing....

You may also be able to get your GP to fill out a Housing Welfare Assessment form (may be called something else)...the situation is causing you deep distress and the assessment can be used to 'push' the housing department....sometimes being strong and pragmatic gets you nowhere and you simple have to let go and use every means possible, hun

You did mention that you have been "shortlisted" by the council...do I understand that to mean they have accepted a duty to you?

Chin up, sweetie.....accept any and all help and you WILL get there

AllNancy

JMV wrote: »

Hello Nancy....I just wanted to say that I wish you well...and also to mention that, if your SIL has made any threats towards you it's worth mentioning to the housing department, as they would have a duty to rehouse you immediately..."Threats or fear of violence" and the complicated famillial relationship of tenant to Landlord may have some bearing....

You may also be able to get your GP to fill out a Housing Welfare Assessment form (may be called something else)...the situation is causing you deep distress and the assessment can be used to 'push' the housing department....sometimes being strong and pragmatic gets you nowhere and you simple have to let go and use every means possible, hun

You did mention that you have been "shortlisted" by the council...do I understand that to mean they have accepted a duty to you?

Chin up, sweetie.....accept any and all help and you WILL get there

Thankyou getting a positive message really helps and most people have been so kind. I knew this was coming but never realised just how tough it would be. Had a long talk with my daughter this morning.

I don't know whether the council have accepted duty of care because I'm on the short list, however long that list might be. The Housing Officer was totally useless but the people in charge of the housing (separate organisation) told me about the short list.

I didn't go and see the house. I chickened out. The agency wanted a guarantor....that was out or approval by the landlady......imagine the conversation.......well actually I'm being evicted for rent arrears. That would have gone down well and I can't lie. I just find it impossible not be straight with people. I suppose paying rent for twelve years with never a blot on my copy book must say something!

I'm going to book an appointment to talk to CAB and have yet to see what the registered letter contains....due soon. I'll let you know.

Thankyou again.


Nancy:)

PS Just got back from the Post Office. Recorded delivery letter was exactly the same as the two I received yesterday. I'm now up to five. Do you think he's trying to tell me something?

clutton_2

Nancy - i really feel for your situation, and also wonder why your daughter left you, at your age, to sort out her mess... but thats another story

As a LL, and i have some pensioner tenants, (they are fabulous long-term tenants, which is what all landlords need)O i would advise you to be honest, as you have said, and maybe get together a little pack of "evidence" of your reliability...

collect bank statements that show you have paid rent (you dont need to go into the nitty gritty details of the saga here). A new landlord does not even need to know any of the family saga.....

Bank statemeents also show a landlord how you live and if you are likely to be able to pay the rent. If you have to show your savings statements.. then show them... anything to prove you are financially responsible.

I have sometimes accepted tenants with a dog, - i suggest you offer 50% more than the normal one months deposit - as many landlords think they will have to replace carpets after dogs leave - even if yours is the best dog in the world the LL does not know that.

If you do not have a deposit - some councils run a BOND scheme which could help...

GO TO VIEWINGS - this will give you confidence and get you in practice for when the time comes.

Re moving out... even when the SEction 21 expires at the end of next (?) month - you DO NOT have to leave... and Landlord Action know that... you will not be harrassed you will not be bothered.

You will get a letter from the court in due course saying that there is a court hearing for the LL to gain possession. It is wise to go so that you cna explain your circumstances to the judge.

Local county courts, are very informal, a small room, with a judge in a suit, 3 desks, one for judge, one for you, and one for the other side. Take a friend with you.

Judges often give tenants 28 days to leave.... but .. you dont have to leave even then.. the LL has to go back to court and buy a bailiffs warrrants - the bailiffs will then need a few weeks to visit and its only then you will actually have to move out...

Guesstimateing - i suspect you will still be in the property by the end of January - possibly Feb. - so this gives you time to gather your wits, ask a friend to go on viewings with you, and to get cracking finding a new home for yourself.

Each council has a list of Accredited Landlords whose propeties have been vetted as being acceptable.

Get evidence that you are a reliable respectable person .. - maybe get a reference from a minister or priest who has known you a long time.

IF you can get a new place before the court hearing you can truthfully put on the application form that you do not have an County Court Judgements against you...

Having a CCJ will make it much more difficult for you to find a private sector landlord

Are you in a position to offer 6 months rent in advance ?

The sooner you find somewhere the sooner you will have some peace.

It IS possible to find somewhere... it just takes patience and time...

If you are verging on depression, and it would be most understandable if you were, then go to the doc... anti-depressants do help and you need every bit of help you can get right now

Very best wishes

Jowo_2

JMV wrote: »

... if your SIL has made any threats towards you it's worth mentioning to the housing department, as they would have a duty to rehouse you immediately...

I'm aware of the obligations of a local council towards victims of domestic abuse to their partners and children, but not towards other tenants in general.

I'm not remotely an expert in this area but would assume that this is a criminal matter where the OP should call the police. It's just that I am not aware of any statutory obligation for a council to house a tenant who is being threatened by a landlord. Am open to challenge on this.

clutton_2

bumping this up to see if there is any progress for Nancy

JMV

Jowo wrote: »

I'm aware of the obligations of a local council towards victims of domestic abuse to their partners and children, but not towards other tenants in general.

I'm not remotely an expert in this area but would assume that this is a criminal matter where the OP should call the police. It's just that I am not aware of any statutory obligation for a council to house a tenant who is being threatened by a landlord. Am open to challenge on this.

Haven't been around for a while and came to see how things are with Nancy....

The violence or harrassment can pretty much come from anyone - neighbours, partners, landlords, ex partners, stalkers etc...I think the legislation used to use the term "Domestic Violence" but, because of increases in such situations as anti-social neighbours and that kind of thing, the guidance now states:

"if you have somewhere to live, but you can't stay there because you are worried about your personal safety because of the threat of violence, abuse or harassment; the threat doesn't have to be from someone living at your home, it can include a neighbour or ex-partner"

I worked with car leavers for 10 years and often had to get them moved and rehoused because of threats (or actual) violence - sometimes from other 'gang' members or landlords, or criminal 'families' who the young person was trying to get away from...

Anyway...how are you doing Nancy?

Wee_Willy_Harris

JMV wrote: »

Haven't been around for a while and came to see how things are with Nancy....

The violence or harrassment can pretty much come from anyone - neighbours, partners, landlords, ex partners, stalkers etc...I think the legislation used to use the term "Domestic Violence" but, because of increases in such situations as anti-social neighbours and that kind of thing, the guidance now states:

"if you have somewhere to live, but you can't stay there because you are worried about your personal safety because of the threat of violence, abuse or harassment; the threat doesn't have to be from someone living at your home, it can include a neighbour or ex-partner"

I worked with car leavers for 10 years and often had to get them moved and rehoused because of threats (or actual) violence - sometimes from other 'gang' members or landlords, or criminal 'families' who the young person was trying to get away from...

Anyway...how are you doing Nancy?

Just to clarify, the OP isn't fleeing violence, she has been served notice. If it weren't for the service of notice, she wouldn't be leaving the property. She is not, therefore, homeless as a result of violence/threats. It is also woth noting that the violence/threats have to be a realistic threat. To quote the legislation... "It is not reasonable for a person to continue to occupy accommodation if it is probable that this will lead to domestic violence [or other violence]"

JMV

I am hoping Nancy will come and post herself but she was having trouble finding her thread...

Anyway, heard from her via PM and she has been offered a HA bungalow...and she's thrilled...

Good luck Nancy and here's to a brighter future...

Wee Willy Harris - just to say that, in my original post I wasn't suggesting she use some spurious claim of being at threat of violence to get housing...I was explaining that if her Son in Law (her landlord) had made any threats towards her she must let the Housing department know...the response of mine that you quote was a clarification to someone who felt it needed to be a partner who was subjecting the person to violence...

I'd also say that there certainly was the potential for Nancy's extremely nasty SIL to start using more extreme measures to get her out of 'his' property...and that was my fear for her...which is why I mentioned it...

clutton_2

how marvellous..... what a great end to a difficult situation