just checking i have this right as my landlord is selling the house i rent

zoesmummy_2006

Basically when my husband left me and our 2 kids we moved back in with my parents as i was a good distance away drom family and friends, dont drive and needed support emotionally. We went to the council for help with housing and were placed in band B as i was sharing a box room with my 2 kids, my son in his cot and sleeping in a single bed with my daughter. I bid on properties as often as possible but got nowhere so my parents lent me the bond/rent for a private let.

The house was being let to pay care home fees for the gentleman who had lived in until he needed more care. He unfortunately passed away last year and i was told before xmas they would be looking to sell in the new year. Yesterday they informed me they would be looking to market it from next week.

They have said they need to give me 2 months notice, and i think they'd prefer to sell empty, and ive been resigned to moving since they told me last year. Not sure how quick the house will sell as it needs heating putting into the main bedroom as theres none, the small bedroom only has a storage heater, the windows have condensation on the inside of the double glazing, not to mention that on the side of the house is a huge unfinished extension, its just a shell. A developers dream im sure.

Anyway, if i get my 2 months notice, think i read its called section 21, and take that back to the council, they have to help when theres 28 days left, is that correct?

I have looked for other private lets, but 2 bed houses in my town are up at £650 pm! I have a daughter at primary school and a 2 yr old son, hes a nightmare when they stay at my parents for the night and keeps her awake, just cos he adores his sister and wants to play lol! The house we're in right now is 3 bed and costs £500 pm.

Sorry if ive rambled, im just starting to feel stressed at the thought of moving and starting again, plus im sure i read the council can put you in temp accomodation, which with 2 young kids terrifies me, a b&b or the such. What would we then do with all our stuff until we're rehomed?

B_Blank

Why dont you just rent somewhere else privately

zoesmummy_2006

As i said the cheapest let is £650 a month, which is way more than im paying now and cant afford. X

sarahevie

Think the OP is saying that renting privately is too expensive. (Sorry if I've misunderstood).

I think that you got a three bed on the cheap this time as there are issues with it, they would have struggled to charge the full market rent with unfinished extension, heating issues etc.

You will either find a cheaper property with problems, possibly through a private individual perhaps they have lost their parents and are keeping the house whilst they work out what to do with it etc, maybe parents have gone into a home and likewise they want additional income.

Or you will have to come up with market rent (whatever that is). Will you get LHA help for a private let which might make it more affordable.

There is a real shortage of social housing, so I don't think that you can rely on that - would expect it is easier to find somewhere privately. The council do have a duty to house you but it can be in bed and breakfast albeit temporarily (shelter website will have more ideas)

I know it's not ideal having children share, but many families have to go through that whether rented or owned.

B_Blank

You can get a store to put your stuff in whilst you are in temp accomadation I would of thought. Very cheap and easy to use.

Moving is stressfull, and I understand that, but you just have to suck it up and deal with it I suspect. I doubt anyone here can give you a magic answer to all your problems.

Look on the bright side of life, you have two kids and caring/helpful parents so things arent that bad. You need to be strong for you children, and make the best out of whatever accommadation you are put in. Whatever happens will happen, you just have to make the most out of it.

Good luck

Wee_Willy_Harris

As soon as you get the S21, take it into your Local Authority Homeless Section. They will, initially, check the validity of any notice and offer advice and assistance to find alternative accommodation under their preventing homelessness provision. Once the notice has been confirmed as correctly served and within 28 days of expiry, they SHOULD take a homeless application (if they refuse, you can insist).

Take heed of their assistance with alternative PR to avoid homelessness as the provision of the homeless legislation with regard to them discharging any "duty to house" can be quite brutal. It isn't always the best route to follow.

If they accept a duty to house, they should also take steps to ensure that your belongings are reasonably secured. This could entail the provision of storage. But, with taxpayers money at a premium, they will use the most cost effective method, which may not match your requirements.

Temporay accommodation may well be offered. This may initially be B+B, but this is usually a short term solution and will be rapidly repalced with either a hostel or their own temporary stock. Don't expect too much from this provision. If you can stay with family and friend, please consider this. It will still be regarded as temporary accommodation and should make no difference to the likely outcome.

zoesmummy_2006

I get lha at the min with the house im in, i pay the rest towards it. The problem with where i live is that its a 'picturesque village'. The house im in was very cheap for what ive got, the lack of heating in main room wasnt an issue for me, i took thst room so the kids would be warm, i have extra blankets on my bed and an oil radiator. A lot of prospective renters were put off by the unfinished extension and the back garden which was a pile of soil full of rubble and weeds. my lovely dad dug it all out, rotavatedthen seeded it last spring resulting in a garden! I dont want to move, love this place, but they do want us out so they can get a quick sale.

With regards to the council i know housing is short supply, but so are private lets, ive bern looking recently and its all starting at £650+ pm, way out of my price range. I dont care about the kids having to share, would just put my son to bed a bit later so my daughters not disturbed, its just theres nowhere in this area price wise. The only house there was, that i posted about few weeks back, was already let subject to contracts etc when i enquired.

As for my family, theres no chance we can move back in with them, my mum is having a knee replacement this week, and will be having the same on other knee in next few months, so not suitable to have us there. Ive bern through harder stuff with my ex walking out, i can cope with this, no matter what happens.
Thanks xxx

Wee_Willy_Harris

LHA rates are CURRENTLY set at the median point of rentals for a particular type of property, so as many should be below the LHA rate as above it. But that is due to change next month so beware. At the risk of sounding harsh, if your "picturesque village" is out of your price range then you cannot afford to live there and should consider other, more affordable areas.

The gamble with relying on securing a homeless priority is that if this doesn't work out the way you would like, the new LHA rates will be in place which will limit payments to, essentially, the cost of the cheapest 30% of properties in your area.

A few things to remember about how a local authority discharges any duty to house under the homeless legislation.... It's one offer, they can bid on your behalf and they can look at nearby areas you may not wish to consider. Think low demand, high turnover properties for which you would easily and quickly qualify. Of course, these may not be the kind of properties you would choose.

PasturesNew

Where I live, the LHA area is the whole county, so I'd not be able to look just in this town, but would have to find a cheaper part of the county (probably 30 miles away from here). Do you know the boundary limits of your LHA area?

martindow

zoesmummy_2006 wrote: »

As for my family, theres no chance we can move back in with them, my mum is having a knee replacement this week, and will be having the same on other knee in next few months, so not suitable to have us there. Ive bern through harder stuff with my ex walking out, i can cope with this, no matter what happens.
Thanks xxx

Your mum's knees sound like a compelling reason for you to move back. You could be helpful to her if her mobility is impaired.