How Much Is Council Rent pls?

HappyMJ

Smamfer wrote: »

This is madness isnt it!! So by doing the " right " thing by leaving when told and what i signed for in my agreement im actually penalising myself????? im doing everything i can to find a private rent, and fingers crossed something will come up

The right thing is to stay in your property. You signed an agreement and that involves staying until the end and requiring the landlord to take all the correct actions to get you to leave. You haven't even got a section 21 notice as yet so your 2 months notice hasn't even started. You notice will start when your rent is next due.

skylight

I agree its madness, to a point. Its not fair the LL has to pay out these sums to get you out because you cannot go on a waiting list with the council (they can get it back from your deposit though). Rent is still due on the property as well.

But the council just dont have the homes anymore. They have to be strict. And you have to decide if its worth it. At least once in a council/HA property, its yours. A secure tenancy is coveted and far better than an AST. You have to decide if long term, thats better for you and your DD but weigh that up with whether or not you can cope short term.

Whatever you decide, I hope all works out well for you.

pmlindyloo

If you have the time I would visit your local council housing offices and explain the situation. They have a duty to help and give advice as regarding your housing situation especially as you have a child. They may know of housing where the rents are cheaper or help regarding your deposit but be prepared for them to tell you to 'sit tight'.

Whilst other posters have told you what most councils do as regards the homelessness situation, there may be exceptions to this.

In fact our local council was 'reprimanded' for not following government guidelines and making people go through the eviction process before they would rehouse them. The reality of the situation is, as someone has already said, there are not enough properties. Plain and simple. The council will put you up in a B & B probably and this would be, no doubt, as upsetting for your child as being evicted by the bailiffs.

Smamfer

thanks for all this guys im sorry if i came across as well i dont know lol but you know what i mean im just shocked! Its one of those situations that unless you already know how it works you just dont realise it could even be like this

fingers crossed i am lucky to find something myself as i personally wouldnt want to put myself or my ll through any of this

Prinzessilein

Smamfer, I understand only too well the stress you are going through, but take a deep breath and try and stay calm. There are people on this forum who can give you help - but you are doing yourself no favours if you allow yourself to get frustrated. The comment about Eastern Europeans was not necessary and will draw focus to your attitude on this issue rather than your actual housing problems.

From your later post it seems you have been given your notice to leave, and have been told you have 2 months to leave. Wait for your section 21 paperwork and then make an appointment with the Housing Office.

I have been through this myself (although not with a child - which I can see adds to your stress). The Housing Office will probably give you the same advice that they gave me - do not move out! There is a shortage of housing and your best bet is, unfortunately, to stay put and allow the process to go to court for a formal eviction. It may not be your first option, but it keeps a roof over your head and that of your little child - which is more important than dignity at the moment.

Eventually, you will have to leave, the Housing Office will put you ion their list. They will take into account your circumstances and this will decide how high a priority for housing you are.

They may well have 'temporary' housing available until you can be found permanent housing. Be warned - 'temporary' does not necessarily mean short-term! You may be there for well over a year. (Housing in my area is really diffficult to find - I was near the top of the list due to disabilites et.c...and was still warned it might mean 18 months 'temporary' before a permanent place was found....but then I was really lucky as a suitable place was vacated unexpectedly!)

These temporary places vary - I have seen some that are actually rather good - and some that are frankly borderline uninhabitable! But again - be realistic - the important thing is getting a roof over your head.

I do hope things work out for you.

pmlindyloo

Have just read through your other thread and see that the house has been put on the market.

This made me wonder about another possibility.

Most people on this forum would commend the LL for selling his/her house tenant free (albeit with a cross -over time!) and not trying 'to have his cake and eat it' (i.e expect tenant to allow viewings whilst still paying rent ).

However, would it be worth asking the LL if you could stay there for longer if you allowed viewings - kept the place tidy etc etc.?

Don't know if that's a possibility - you would have to come to some agreement about moving out when he sold - giving you 2 months notice - and be inconvenienced by allowing viewings but it would give you longer. The landlord may not sell for months so he might be open to this suggestion. (May even give you a rent reduction for the incomvenience - maybe not!)

Just a thought!

Smamfer

thanks, i have thought about that and mentioned it whether he would prefer to be getting some income from it rather than it being empty for ages if it doesnt sell. he doesnt live that locally either about 80 miles i think so maybe it would be beneficial to him its just that it wasnt mentioned when i had the initial call. I suppose the only downfall of that would be is if a cash buyer came along and the sale went through really quickly xx but thanks for your time xx

pmlindyloo

Smamfer wrote: »

thanks, i have thought about that and mentioned it whether he would prefer to be getting some income from it rather than it being empty for ages if it doesnt sell. he doesnt live that locally either about 80 miles i think so maybe it would be beneficial to him its just that it wasnt mentioned when i had the initial call. I suppose the only downfall of that would be is if a cash buyer came along and the sale went through really quickly xx but thanks for your time xx

We were cash buyers when we downsized - no chain - bought our rented property - and it still took 12 weeks! No one ever knows how long it will take so you might be in with a chance. At least it amy be worth exploring. Need to see how you get on at the Housing offices.

Smamfer

wow thanks, its been 19 yrs since i bought a property and that completed in 6 weeks so i guess a lot has changed since then lol

BigAunty

The Shelter website has a good explanation of the homelessness process, how a local council should process an application, who is classed as a priority for social housing, etc.

Happy MJ is right - councils cannot offer accommodation to everyone who is served notice by their landlord so they are notorious for trying to cut down on demand for their service by 'gatekeeping' (telling the tenant to stay put until the landlord has got a court order or denying them help under the 'intentional homelessness' decision).

As the Shelter website says, this practice should not happen but it is still very common.

Some tenants are actually glad when their landlord serves notice as they know they will leap to the front of the queue for social housing, some try to get the landlord to ask them to leave....