Help with private renting

Natalie6999

My partner was assaulted again on friday night, he had only gone to the local shop down the road. Three members of the family from hell followed him from the shop & proceeded to punch him in the face, leaving him with a badly cut mouth & unable to eat due to his injuries.

We dialled 999 & the police came out to see us but have warned us that there will probably be repercussions if my partner presses charges. Incidentally we were turned down for priority rehousing earlier in the day as the council don't think our case is serious enough.

Our only option now is private renting as we have to get out ASAP as we are living in fear of our lives.

lighting_up_the_chalice

Have your local authority taken a homeless application from you?

missapril75

lighting_up_the_chalice wrote: »

Have your local authority taken a homeless application from you?

They're not homeless nor faced with it. Giving up their current tenancy carries the risk of the LA deciding they became homeless intentionally.

They are hoping for a transfer but it could be a while.

lighting_up_the_chalice

missapril75 wrote: »

They're not homeless nor faced with it. Giving up their current tenancy carries the risk of the LA deciding they became homeless intentionally.

They are hoping for a transfer but it could be a while.

They don't need to give up the tenancy to be accepted as homeless. I'll wait for the OP to reply.

AMG762

lighting up the chalice, you are right...

Other situations can be more complicated, and the council has to look at your situation as a whole before deciding whether you are homeless. For example, even if you have accommodation that you have a legal right to live in and no one is trying to get you out, it may not be reasonable for you to stay there. This would be the case if you are experiencing violence or abuse or harassment, or if the condition of your home is damaging your health.

link..
http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/homelessness/legal_definition_of_homelessness

samwich1979

Natalie6999 wrote: »

My partner was assaulted again on friday night, he had only gone to the local shop down the road. Three members of the family from hell followed him from the shop & proceeded to punch him in the face, leaving him with a badly cut mouth & unable to eat due to his injuries.

We dialled 999 & the police came out to see us but have warned us that there will probably be repercussions if my partner presses charges. Incidentally we were turned down for priority rehousing earlier in the day as the council don't think our case is serious enough.

Our only option now is private renting as we have to get out ASAP as we are living in fear of our lives.

I would be back down to the council offices with your partner and get a crime number from the police for Fridays assault and tell them they HAVE to make you priority for this reason.

See the CAB also for advice but whatever you do do not give up your council home, my family have been trying for ages to get social housing as private renting has been a total disaster for us over the past year/18 months.

Really dont change to private, keep on at the council they have to help you.

kj*daisy

Press charges with the police, get a crime number and go back to homeless for urgent re-housing on the basis you can't carry on living where you are as you are in danger. You need to do this if you want the council to move you. Contact your MP and local councillor again now this has happened.
If anything the homeless service may be able to help you with a bond for private accommodation if this is definitely the route you want to take.

Tottyshouse

PippaGirl wrote: »

Also bear in mind that housing is not secure in the private rental arena, some people are fortunate in finding long lets but others through no fault of their own are moved on when landlords want to sell/move back in/ change agency/have friends they want in and then you will have to finance each move and the interiors will be different needing different things. Also many LL are very clever at using your deposit as the basis for their upgrading between tenants and it can be a fight to get it all back even though you have left it as you found it.

Private landlord's can only do that if you sign an inventory stating the place is as they describe and then when you leave it is a tip! If you don't sign an inventory then a landlord cannot unfairly keep a deposit to "upgrade" between tenants. The deposit is held in a scheme and if they try to make unfair deductions then you can refuse and go to small claims court. Without proof that you caused the damage (ie a signed inventory preferably with photographs) then the landlord is on a sticky wicket. I am a private landlord. I am a member of a private landlord's association. I don't know of any - let alone the "many" you assert, who unfairly keep deposits. I also don't know any who move good tenants on. The tenants who get moved on after 6 months are those that either don't pay rent or who cause damage to the property or a nuisance to the neighbours. It's shame for the OP that LHA's don't have the flexibility to move on neighbours from hell quite so easily.

Dunroamin

Tottyshouse wrote: »

Private landlord's can only do that if you sign an inventory stating the place is as they describe and then when you leave it is a tip! If you don't sign an inventory then a landlord cannot unfairly keep a deposit to "upgrade" between tenants. The deposit is held in a scheme and if they try to make unfair deductions then you can refuse and go to small claims court. Without proof that you caused the damage (ie a signed inventory preferably with photographs) then the landlord is on a sticky wicket. I am a private landlord. I am a member of a private landlord's association. I don't know of any - let alone the "many" you assert, who unfairly keep deposits. I also don't know any who move good tenants on. The tenants who get moved on after 6 months are those that either don't pay rent or who cause damage to the property or a nuisance to the neighbours. It's shame for the OP that LHA's don't have the flexibility to move on neighbours from hell quite so easily.

Return of deposits in rented accommodation has always been one of the more contentious issues, which was why the current deposit scheme was introduced.

Whilst you may be a professional landlord who encourages long term tenants , many are not and lots of tenants have to leave because the LL is selling, needs the property for family or a dozen other reasons.

heartbreak_star

Could other families in the area help you get these idiots evicted? I feel for you

HBS x