Five Families/Neighbours may loose homes because of new build!HELP and advice please

debbiedeejay

Hello All, This is my first post so please excuse me if I seem a bit nervous:oor a bit stupid!.

I wonder if anybody has any advice over a predicament myself and neighbours have found ourselves in.

My family have rented a terraced cottage in our village for the past 14 years through a private LL along with four other families(all adjoining propeties). Our rent has been very low and although our houses not always perfect we all happy with them.We all either work locally for the NHS or the local school/pre school,but our incomes are not massive.This is going to affect 8 adults and 7 children.
We are all on shorthold assured tenanacies.

Our LL also has a well known local haulage buisness on site(originally a farm) which he has now decided he needs to move to a new location which he also owns ,just outside the village,to expand his business.

Two weeks ago all the families received letters explaining that his intention is to sell the land including our homes to property developers and the surveyors came yesteday and took measurements of all the houses.

It was explained that the council have accepted the change of use of land from business to residential and we know that our houses can not be demolished as they are listed,although they could be improved.

Planning permission/plans have not been made "proper" -although a friend of mine has seen builders plans,apparently.

The agent explained that in new rulings,40% of new builds have to be "low cost housing"and these could either be our currrent homes or part of the new 12-16 that they build.

Lots of questions now start coming to mind as you can imagine!

The agent did not say if this low cost housing would be to rent or to buy,or what the prospective new land owner(s) intend to do with us,if for instance we are intitled to these LCH because we already live here and it would affect us.If it were that they rentable the price would certainly double at least!
He also did say that our current LL could give us up to 8 weeks notice to leave because he is selling up although it could be 6 months before anything could happen.

Now here is the crunch,do we stay put and see what happens or do you think we should start looking for a new home elsewhere?

I must admit this whole thing has left a bad feeling,and I know that when it comes down to it our LL really will want a quick smooth sale with as many ££££'s as he can get (not really bothered about us.)

We personally have seen houses that we could just afford to buy although any mortage is going to cost us three times our current rent(yep our rents that low!),due to our ages/time to pay but we could just do it - and at least it would be ours.

Or do we hold out to see what happens?


I wonder if any one else has been in the same situation with so many families/houses being affected at once?

Looking forward to your replies

lynzpower

What sort of tenancies are you on? Im certain that this will make all the difference in how you can proceed.

debbiedeejay

We are all on shorthold assured tenanacies.

We have lived here the longest (14 years) the others 12,10,7and 4 years.Since we have all been living here past our original 12 month agreements and no one has re-signed any agreement I think it is now classed as periodic tenancy,in that we pay our rents monthly ,so the minimum notice we can be given is a month.

Thats how I understand it,but I am probably wrong!

lynzpower

no debbie, your right there.

In terms of your tenancies there seems no way forward.

Personally, Id start looking for something else.

It COUD be they take ages, but it might not be, and to my mind its always better to jump before being pushed. You never know you could find something amazing!

milkydrink

As NHS & education workers surely you are "key workers".

If you look on the web you will find info about this as there is a housing section for "key workers"

Type that into google & look on your local primary health care web &/or the NHS & your local education authority website.
They may help with advice, if nothing else I think you will get some of your mortgage at a better rate.

Guy_Montag

I'd get in touch with your local councillor & see if there's any way to object to the plans.

Good luck.

advent1122

Guy_Montag wrote: »

I'd get in touch with your local councillor & see if there's any way to object to the plans.

Good luck.

Why?
The LL seems to have treated them well (or they wouldnt have been there 14 years) and now he has decided to sell up.
Why be a thorn? The LL will win in the end and it would be better to part on good terms.
This is one of the problems with renting.

Generali

advent1122 wrote: »

Why?
The LL seems to have treated them well (or they wouldnt have been there 14 years) and now he has decided to sell up.
Why be a thorn? The LL will win in the end and it would be better to part on good terms.
This is one of the problems with renting.

The LL's looking after himself. The tenant can do the same. It's a series of business transactions. OP can object to planning under the law. LL can kick OP out.

That LL has kept renewing OP's tenancy over the years makes me think that LL has had a good deal too.

clutton_2

why not ask the landlord how much he would sell your house to you for ?

debbiedeejay

We have asked if we could purchase the house but he refused.

It is unlikely he would have anyway - prospective developers/ builders would not see the amount of land and current houses as tempting if we were there are owners rather than tennants-just think of all the objections we could put in as owners,don't think we have a leg to stand on as tennants.

It is a shame as I love my home but this has really made me realise that it is only a house and it does not belong to me-

Its left me feeling really confused - dont know whether to go and buy this house we have seen or stay put and see whaat happens???
AGHHH!!!

milkydrink

Look into the key workers scheme on the internet & see what info you can get there. There may be a helpline.