problems moving house with my health problems

rubys_mummy

hi, i could really do with some advice please...

i've just been served the 1 month's notice to leave my rented house, after being here for the last 11 years as my landlady is selling up

i'm currently getting HRC and LRM DLA, as well as I.S, and my hubby is my full time carer

my first problem is finding somewhere else to live as nearly EVERY agent point blank refuses to accept housing benefit applications, even though we say that we get it because i am on disability benefits, which i feel is discrimination...is there anything i can do about this?

my second problem is that i suffer agoraphobia as one of my problems and have been unable to leave the house for years....do you think my GP would help with some sort of medication to sedate me/calm me down enough, for my hubby to get me to a new home (that's if we ever manage to get one )

Owain_Moneysaver

Firstly you should query the 1 month notice with Shelter or CAB. You may well be entitled to 2 months.

Unless the landlord follows the proper procedures exactly the notice will be void.

Unless you are an excluded occupier you don't have to leave until the landlord gets a possession order from the court. This means that if you can't leave when the notice ends you have a bit more time to find somewhere else to live. However, if there is a possession hearing, you might have to pay your landlord's court and legal costs.

You should also contact your local council and state that you are being made homeless and require rehousing.

mynameistallulah

rubys_mummy wrote: »

my first problem is finding somewhere else to live as nearly EVERY agent point blank refuses to accept housing benefit applications, even though we say that we get it because i am on disability benefits, which i feel is discrimination...is there anything i can do about this?

Just to clarify, this is not discrimination. If someone refused to let to you because you were disabled, that would be, but in this case the reason is that you have an unreliable source of income.

[Deleted User]

If you are on an AST (ie are renting a full house rather than a room, which u say you are).., the landlord HAS to give you two month's notice, not one month's notice. Have u already been served with a S21 notice or just an informal letter? If not, they have to issue one, wait for the notice period to be served and if you have not left, they then have to go through a court process to evict you officially (this takes some time).

I don't know how seriously your agoraphobia affects you, but if you can, I'd suggest an urgent visit to the CAB is needed as at the moment it looks like you are unsure of what your rights are. You could phone shelter. I'd also suggest u look online for housing advice organisations in your area.

I'd also suggest phoning your local authority housing advice department. Ask for private rentals.., they will advise you too. They may (I can only say may) come to talk to you in your house, given your difficulties.

You could also try posting this in the House Buying, Renting and Selling part of the forum http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=16 as they can give advice particular to housing issues. It'll probably be similiar to what I've posted above though but there may be something I've missed that u need to know. There are other issues you need to consider, for example, if you will allow viewings whilst still a tenant. I believe that the 'private enjoyment' clauses in AST's mean that you don't have to if you don't want to.., but u'd be better off confirming that.

I am afraid that having difficulty finding an LA or LL who will accept LHA is common. Its not discrimination, its down to LL experience of benefit recipients who leave them in a bad situation with damaged housing and rent owing. Unfortunately, even though you personally may be a 'good' risk, LHA recipients generally are not considered a good risk. Lettings Agencies often have an income criteria for suitable tenants (like, for example a tenant must earn 20 times the rent per annum) and they don't count benefits like LHA etc as income. However, you do have a bit of time to find a LL who will accept LHA recipients as tenants.., they do exist although are rare. You could try phoning up your local authority's housing department and finding out if they have a list of LL's who accept LHA recipients (although not all councils do have these lists, its definitely worth a try). I would also advise making an application for housing with your local authority. But be prepared, they will tell you they can't help right up until they decide they can. Get some advice and do your research online so you are fully informed on what is possible and like I said, what your rights are.