Can the council evict my dad/what happens to me?

no1wf

2 questions really.

I'm of the age now where I'm looking to move into a place of my own with my boyfriend in the next year or so.

But my mum died a few months ago so it's just me and my dad living here in a council rented property. He said to me the other day that if I moved out they would evict him because of under occupancy.

Is this true? And what happens exactly?

Also, my dad is not in the best of health either. I overheard a woman who came round a few months ago to help with stuff say that if anything were to happen to my dad that the council would evict me too. They would find me somewhere else but I would have a number of weeks to pack up my life and leave the house I've lived in my entire life. She did ask how long I'd lived here so if that makes a difference to anything I'm not sure.

Or if something were to happen to my dad, could my boyfriend move in and we'd live here ourselves?

If anyone has any info at all it's greatly appreciated

Werdnal

Councils vary on their criteria for housing, but although they might evict your dad if he was in the property on his own, I doubt they would chuck him out on the streets. They may insist he "downsize" to a smaller, perhaps one bed flat or bungalow, and free up your former family home for another family.

As for you, I assume you are not on the current tenancy? I know our local council have a policy of allowing one change to the tenancy, ie your mum and dad were joint tenants, now your dad is the only tenant - so this is the one change. If your dad passed away, then you would not automatically succeed on the tenancy, as the one change has been used, so you would have no right to stay there. Again, I doubt you'd be chucked out on the street, but you would have little say on the size or location of property you were offered, and our council only offer you a chance of 1 or 2 properties, and if you don't accept them, then you are evicted anyway!

no1wf

Werdnal wrote: »

Councils vary on their criteria for housing, but although they might evict your dad if he was in the property on his own, I doubt they would chuck him out on the streets. They may insist he "downsize" to a smaller, perhaps one bed flat or bungalow, and free up your former family home for another family.

As for you, I assume you are not on the current tenancy? I know our local council have a policy of allowing one change to the tenancy, ie your mum and dad were joint tenants, now your dad is the only tenant - so this is the one change. If your dad passed away, then you would not automatically succeed on the tenancy, as the one change has been used, so you would have no right to stay there. Again, I doubt you'd be chucked out on the street, but you would have little say on the size or location of property you were offered, and our council only offer you a chance of 1 or 2 properties, and if you don't accept them, then you are evicted anyway!

My boyfriend and I were thinking of putting our name down for a council house as we knew it would be a long wait and that's where we found out we'd get limited chances to say no to the houses they offered us which is what I would imagine to happen if either of us were to be evicted, we would basically be put wherever they told us to go.

No I'm not on the tennancy, and I think it's unfair that for a name to be removed not through choice but through death counts as one change. Otherwise I could put my name on and live here the rest of my life.

I understand that they would give me some time to move but a few weeks to pack up not only my stuff, but my dads, and what's left of my mums all by myself is a huge job for 1 person who's never had to do it before. You'd think there'd be some kind of difference for these circumstances.

I just wish there was a way for either my dad or me to keep this house, I've lived here all my life and I'm attached to say the least. How other people can just move house and have some (not to stereotype) teenage family move in is unbearable

grey_lady

I'd be suprised if your dad was asked to leave because of the house being under occupied, i know someone who lives in a 3 bed council flat - which passed to him after his dad and then mum died.

Talk to the citizens advice bureau :-)

ps - the women talking about eviction may not have been correct

faerie~spangles

You don't mention whether you or dad are working or claiming benefits nor where in the UK you are living.

The rules vary wildly.

My ex bil lives in his 5 apartment 'family' council house and is retired.

no1wf

grey_lady wrote: »

I'd be suprised if your dad was asked to leave because of the house being under occupied, i know someone who lives in a 3 bed council flat - which passed to him after his dad and then mum died.

Talk to the citizens advice bureau :-)

ps - the women talking about eviction may not have been correct

Really? That's given me some hope, thank you. I think I might have to, their website is giving me nothing on it

no1wf

faerie~spangles wrote: »

You don't mention whether you or dad are working or claiming benefits nor where in the UK you are living.

The rules vary wildly.

My ex bil lives in his 5 apartment 'family' council house and is retired.

Dad is nearing 60 and was working up until he was made redundant a few years ago. He isn't working anymore due to his health. I'm working part time and we live in Wales. I'm not sure exactly what benefits we're getting, we've had some bereavement ones and there's supposed to be one to do with rent but it's not happened yet. My dad took over all the money side from my mum I don't know for sure

somethingcorporate

Before getting worked up give the council a call. I don't think they'd evict due to the current circumstances although what they do when your father dies is another question entirely.

I do think, for now, you are worrying about nothing and a phone call on Monday morning should allay your fears.

Good luck!

McKneff

Stop worrying about your dad, he will not be evicted from his home.

He may want to move eventually, to a sheltered housing complex, but for the moment just support him, he has lost his soulmate, bless him.

Your posts are confusing, first you say you are thinking about moving out, then you are attached to the home you have lived in for so long and are bitter that you wont be able to take over the tenancy.

You and your boyfriend have the rest of your lives to live, you may have to live in private rent or buy.

Dont visit your worries about you on your dad, make him your 100% priority for now and see what happens.

no1wf

McKneff wrote: »

Stop worrying about your dad, he will not be evicted from his home.

He may want to move eventually, to a sheltered housing complex, but for the moment just support him, he has lost his soulmate, bless him.

Your posts are confusing, first you say you are thinking about moving out, then you are attached to the home you have lived in for so long.

You and your boyfriend have the rest of your lives to live, you may have to live in private rent or buy.

Dont visit your worries about you on your dad, make him your 100% priority for now and see what happens.

Are you sure he won't?

If I could live here forever I would, but we can't set up home ourselves with my dad still living here so I would move out as long as I was sure he would get to stay here, and we could keep this house in our family as long as possible.

grey_lady

If you move out and anything happens to your dad then i think the house would go back to the council - if you dont have any siblings living there.

-If you still live there and anything happens to your dad then theres a good chance the tenancy would pass to you, but there are rules around this.

Have you and your dad thought about buying the property under the right to buy scheme?