Advice please - notice to leave private rent, how to approach council

Diane1961_2

My husband's daughter and boyfriend (early twenties, he works, with baby) have been given notice to move out of their rented accommodation. I understand that they are on the local council housing list. What are their options? And what should they do now in terms of trying to get a council property? Any other ideas welcomed.
Thanks
Diane

Kittendreich

They need to go to their local housing office and explain their situation. As they will be counted as becoming homeless this will give them more 'points' towards accommodation getting them up the list and the council also have a statutory responsibility to house them (in Scotland, I assume it is the same in England) - although this can be B&B or hostel accommodation so not ideal. They might also want to appraoch housing associations although many of these work with the council lists so the housing office will be able to tell them whether they need to do this separately and how to go about it.

Bloomin_Freezing2

We were in this situation, although I was pregnant. We were offered the B&B/Hostel accommodation, but we didn't like the idea, plus it was 30 miles away from home! We ended upmoving in with my Mum and putting stuff into storage. Mum only had a 1 bed flat so she moved into her living room (poor mum). Anyway, the fact 3 of us were in a 1 bed meant we were also overcrowded, giving u s more points again. luckily for us, we were only there 6 weeks before a lovely house came up which we moved into. we have since had a 2nd child and managed to swap our lovely 2 bed for an equally lovely 3 bed. I appreciate that others don't have it quite falling into their laps as we did. It was a pure fluke, but i'm very grateful for it.

We have a new system now, where you have to bid against others for a property and who has more points will be given it. Thank goodness we're settled and don't have to do that.

RAS

Please warn your husbans daughter that they must not move out on the day that the noticve expires; most council's will regard them as intentionally homeless and provide no support in this case. Some will consider support when the family is given and eviction notice, others only when the bailiffs are knocking on the door.

chewits

Must re-iterate what RAS said. They shouldn't leave on the date the landlord has given, they have to wait for the landlord to get a court order, and be issued with a date from the court. (Unfortunately, the tenant is liable for the court costs - caught between a rock and a hard place) However, they will be classed as legally homeless 28 days before the initial date given by the landlord

tiamai_d

Or look for another private rent?

chewits

tiamai_d wrote: »

Or look for another private rent?

and start the whole sorry process all over again

zoesmummy_2006

i went the private rent route when my ex hubby left as i was living in box room at my parents with ds in cot and sharing single bed with dd. health visitor was appalled at lack of help i got from council, i was constantly bidding on properties but got nowhere. parents decided to help when they saw a lovely 3 bed house to let round corner from where my dad works, they put up bond and 1st months rent. I went for this as was assured it was longterm let and really just wanted to be settled with my kids and try and get our life back on track. Unfortunately circumstances with the let have changed, they were letting it to pay care home fees, the elderly gentleman unfortunately passed last year and i was informed then that after xmas they would be looking to put the house on the market. As of yet nothing has happened, but i am looking at the council bidding sheets every fortnight when they are refreshed and at other private rental properties in this town (dd has just stared school last sept and im loathe to disrupt her again after the 16 months she's had). Fct of the matter is, the house im in is rented at £500 pm, the cheapest property to rent in this town now is a 2 bed house at £650pm!!!
so im very interested in seeing what advice has been given regarding leaving when notice has been given. they have told me they have to give me 2 months notice, and it's all through a lettings agent so assume they'll do it all correctly! they've been on the ball and great while we've been here and i'll miss this place!!!

tiamai_d

chewits wrote: »

and start the whole sorry process all over again

It's eaither private rent or squat till the council accept you as homeless and go through the B&B/Hostel route till they offer you some dive in junkieville. And house the junkies in the nice places.

Or thats how it works here. :cool:

Or they move in with parents who then 'kick them out'. But the issue with 'going homeless' if the boyfriend works is that they will ahve to pay rent. My B&SIL ended up paying almost £800 a month for a 1 bedroom homeless flat till they had to be moved in the middle of the night after a drugs raid on the flat downstairs (also a homeless flat).

rachbc

Any reason they can't look for another private let? Our council have lists of recommended landlords and due to the shortage of council housing its a more realistic option for most people.