2 Months Notice - Rented

clutton_2

contact your local authority housing department - they sometimes have "bond schemes" whereby folks can borrow the bond and pay it back over a period.

welshog8

If you go to your local authority and show them the letter that you have already had from your landlord they should immediately accept you onto their housing list. They will not class you as homeless though until your landlord has begun eviction proceedings against you.
You may not want to live in local authority accomodation but it is generally cheaper than privately rented and you don't need a bond etc....
Hope this helps.

SteveCat

welshog8 wrote:

Don't panic just yet. If your landlord has sent you notice it means nothing. Once your notice has expired you can remain at the property until he evicts you.
The eviction process is quite lengthy so this could buy you a minimum of 4 months to find somewhere else. Speak to Citizens advice or look up the Housing Act on the web which will give you all the info you need to fight the landlord with.
This course of action is obviously not going to make you popular with the landlord but it is a means to an end if you are desperate.
Best of Luck!

Thats actually not very good advice, I certainly wouldn't advise any Tenant doing that under these circumstances. It will lead to bad references and certianly hinder any chances of finding further accomodation. My advice would be to take the two months notice and in the meantime look for further accomodation with your current Agent. Build a good relationship with them as unlike your Landlord they will want to keep you.
Regarding your deposit on the next place, I would imagine you have some to come back if not all from your current Landlord. If of course you have paid any in the first instance. If this is the case then obviously this can go towards your next property. Failing that i would contact your local council and ask for some information regarding a rent deposit scheme. Most councils now run these schemes and they are very helpful for Tenants who haven't deposit. Obviously certain criteria must be met like; you need to be claiming a certain amount of Housing Benefit and your new Landlord will have to accept Tenants claiming Housing Benefit. They may help beyond these circumstances though, its worth asking.
If these fail let this thread know and i will inform you of more tips we give other Tenants in this situation.

SteveCat

I should also like to add, most council Rent Deposit Schemes do not have to be paid back. Its paid directly to the Landlord and inturn they have to provide a 12 month Tenancy.

EdInvestor

SteveCat wrote:

My advice would be to take the two months notice and in the meantime look for further accomodation with your current Agent. Build a good relationship with them as unlike your Landlord they will want to keep you.

Excellent advice.:) Esepcially if you have been good tenants, paying the rent on time and looking after the property.The agent will be keen to find you a new spot.Since there is plenty of competition between landlords these days, this may not be as hard as you think.

In order to get your deposit back to use on the next flat,make sure the current one is left in an excellent state as you depart.

Kerstin_2

Sorry to hijack this thread. I have been reading this thread with interest. Especially about the local council's bond scheme. Stevecat mentiones that you need to be on some sort of hoursing benefit. But what can I do when I am not claiming housing benefits and the council is otherwise pretty unwilling to help?
Regards,
kerstin

roger56

Sorry to hear about the situation.
From what you say, you tenancy is now periodic and the landlord is
entitled to give 2 months notice. You are entitled to give 1 months notice.

Getting difficult with the landlord may buy you time, but it won't get you a reference for a new rental. Remember also that if the landlord has to evict you, he may be entitled to recover costs from you deposit.
Think about what Rosiesparkle has said as well, it's a sensible approach.

As far as the deposit is concerned, it belongs to you unless you have caused
damage to the property. You should be able to get the deposit back within
10 days - ask the rental agency and explain your situation. I insist the tenant gets the deposit back ASAP after rental as for many finding extra money can be hard. This website page is very helpful regarding deposits:
http://england.shelter.org.uk/advice/advice-3003.cfm

SteveCat

Kerstin wrote:

Sorry to hijack this thread. I have been reading this thread with interest. Especially about the local council's bond scheme. Stevecat mentiones that you need to be on some sort of hoursing benefit. But what can I do when I am not claiming housing benefits and the council is otherwise pretty unwilling to help?
Regards,
kerstin

Kerstin i'm not so sure it just applys to people claiming HB. We recently had a Tenant who was claiming Working Tax Credit and was topped up with a small amount of HB. She was entitled to the rent deposit scheme but decided not to take because of the apparent delay that excisted at the time.

Bunnie1982

Thanks everyone, we seem to be making good tracks anyway.

OH's parents have offered to lend us deposit and then we pay them back when we get our deposit back from the landlord.

Also applying to the local housing trust, got a 16 page form to wade through. Also looking into a "Homebuy" scheme