BOLTON AT HOME social housing-anyone familiar?

swingaloo

Ive looked on the website but unless you are registered there is not much help.

Does anyone know how it works. Ive been renting privately for 6 years but the landlord has 6 houses in the street and has sold 4 and given notice on the 5th giving 8 weeks for the to leave.

We know we are secure for the next 16 months as we have a fixed tenancy. Now Im worried that at the end of the tenancy ours will be sold as well and so would like to try to get some form of social housing so its permanent. I have a disabled partner and an adult son who still lives with us.

It looks like you have to register and then show an interest in a property when one comes available. The problem I forsee though is that we may be in a position of being given 6 weeks notice and then not be sucessful when showing an interest and so have to committ to another private landlord on a 6 month tenancy and then have to move again. With my partner being disabled now we really do need to try to find a permanent home.

Does anyone have experience of the Bolton at Home renting scheme. Any advice would be so welcome.

Thank you for reading.

New_User

Have you spoken to your landlord?

swingaloo

Yes we have but they dont give anything away, they have sold the other houses over the past 12 months. Ou neighbour asked if hers was going to be sold around 6 months ago and they were told that he hadnt decided how many he was going to sell so couldnt give an answer. We are fixed into the tenancy for another 16 months and so couldnt move yet if we wanted to but Im worrying that at the end of the 16 months it will be a case of 6 weeks to find somewhere else.

New_User

Doesn't sound very helpful or reliable.
Unless he can extend your tenancy, then you'll need to look for somewhere else and he will need to find a new tenant.
If this potential void doesn't bother him, then one can only deduce that he is seriously thinking of selling.

If I was you, I would email him, setting out your concerns and copy in the local council housing department.

Don't fall out with him though, because you'll need a reference from him. Just explain your concerns politely.

I would avoid letters or phone calls.
I have always found emails and meeting for a cup of tea the best ways.

I'm no expert, only advising what I would do.

harrys_dad

You will have much more than 6 weeks to get out of your current place. At the end of your current fixed term agreement you could be served a section 21, which will give you 2 months notice. You do not have to leave at the end of the two months, and the landlord may then have to go to court. During that time you can go through the process outlined. Your chances of success will depend on your circumstances at the time.

New_User

harrys_dad wrote: »

the landlord may then have to go to court.

Could this not damage the goodwill between tenant and landlord?
Why not try and come to an agreement ASAP?

lighting_up_the_chalice

"Homes For Bolton" is the portal for Social Housing in Bolton, but they are currently transferring to a Choice Based Lettings (CBL) system over the next couple of months.

Nearby Preston already has CBL, so it may be worth your while looking at the information on their website.... Allocations policy, priorities, bids, availability etc. It may not be identical to the system Bolton eventually use, but it will be very, very similar.

http://www.selectmove.co.uk/Data/ASPPages/1/2.aspx

lighting_up_the_chalice

New_User wrote: »

Could this not damage the goodwill between tenant and landlord?
Why not try and come to an agreement ASAP?

Selling your home from under you is hardly a demonstration of goodwill.

swingaloo

Thank you for the reply.

I don't think you understand what Im hoping for help with. I already have an extended tenancy which secures us for the next 16 months. What I need to know is how easy or hard it is to go from private renting to social housing (so we can be secure for life) especially in the Bolton area. I was wondering how the process works when you are in a position whereby you cant apply till you know you are being evicted and then 6 weeks notice isn't really sufficient.

Having a disabled partner and being near retirement age Im not in a position to go down the 'make yourself homeless and end up in a hostel' route.

swingaloo

harrys_dad wrote: »

You will have much more than 6 weeks to get out of your current place. At the end of your current fixed term agreement you could be served a section 21, which will give you 2 months notice. You do not have to leave at the end of the two months, and the landlord may then have to go to court. During that time you can go through the process outlined. Your chances of success will depend on your circumstances at the time.

We have already had an eviction notice as it is given immediately you rent from this agent. When we first got the house it was a 6 month agreement and we got the Section 21 within 3 days of moving in. At the time they explained that it was just procedure to serve it in case of problem tenants so they could get rid faster.
when we signed the new longer term fixed agreement a new section 21 was served.

lighting_up_the_chalice

swingaloo wrote: »

Thank you for the reply.

I don't think you understand what Im hoping for help with. I already have an extended tenancy which secures us for the next 16 months. What I need to know is how easy or hard it is to go from private renting to social housing (so we can be secure for life) especially in the Bolton area. I was wondering how the process works when you are in a position whereby you cant apply till you know you are being evicted and then 6 weeks notice isn't really sufficient.

Having a disabled partner and being near retirement age Im not in a position to go down the 'make yourself homeless and end up in a hostel' route.

The homeless procedure is detailed on the Bolton Council website.

http://www.selectmove.co.uk/Data/ASPPages/1/2.aspx

The waiting time for individual properties is much more difficult (ie impossible) to predict. But nearby Preston will have a similar market and previous lets can be viewed here... http://www.selectmove.co.uk/Data/ASPPages/1/2.aspx ... to give you some idea of what to expect. In Preston, Homelessness is band B. From previous lets, the wait for a 2 bed house from band B varies from a couple of weeks to a couple of years. The deciding factor will be location and if it's a new build. Everyone wants the best location and everyone wants a new house. If those factors aren't such an issue, your waiting time will be shorter. However, with homelessness the authority have a DUTY to house you, so will be able to place bids on your behalf to ensure that you are housed as quickly as possible. It may not be exactly where you want to be, but you can't really be homeless AND fussy.