Would I be considered I made myself intentionally homeless if...

[Deleted User]

I write a letter to my landlord asking him to extend my tenancy by 2 months or so in order for me to have more time to find another property?

The backstory is that my LL issued me a notice to quit premisses and I am still struggling to find a property to move to. I work full time but I receive HB and have just recently became a single mother so only one income. I basically need more time to build up more savings and find a property to move to. With half term approaching I will finally have time for phone calls, viewings, packing etc..

I have applied to my LA about 22 days ago, for social housing and attached my LL's notice but haven't heard from them apart from one letter acknowledging my application. I am planning to phone them tomorrow but I know how the services are stretched and I know it is likely they will end up putting me and my daughter in a B&B for several months or years so maybe staying in the private sector is a better solution?

Anyway, I am just wondering if the letter to the LL would have any negative impact on my social housing application?
From my point of view it would have a benefit effect as people would see I am trying really hard to rent by myself and keep afloat and would go for social housing as a last resort but who knows?

Any ideas or opinions?

Thanks in advance?

[Deleted User]

Oh sorry and the reason for this title is: will the letter to the LL constitute as me accepting the LL's notice and therefore making myself intentionally homeless? Or just moving out when I don't need to (possession order, bailiffs etc) or no renting payment constitute me as making myself homeless?

I am rambling, hopefully someone can understand..

lighting_up_the_chalice

It would depend on why the original notice was served. Negotiating a short extension shouldn't effect any homeless decision.

It's also worth remembering that the notice is only a stated intention to approach the courts. It doesn't end the tenancy. It's quite possible that you could still be at the address 6 months or more after the notice has expired.

[Deleted User]

Thank you for replying.

The original notice is simple based on the fact that my LL decided to have his property back. There are no arrears, antisocial behaviour, criminal offence or intentional damage.

I have been spending many hours every night researching my rights and I am aware that only a court can evict me through possession order and baillifs but I am not sure if my LL is aware of all those legalities/procedures… and I think he is assuming I will move at the end of his notice no matter what. He wants to pay me a visit to take measurements of the property and inspect the painting of the walls…I assume he is planing to redecorate the whole place very soon.

I also worry about not getting a reference and all the stress that an eviction can bring to one's life. I sure can handle the stress no problem, but my daughter is very worried to the point it is affecting her schooling and her teacher keeps asking me questions about the situation in order to help me to reassure her.

Tough times. My exH and I separated in November not on very good terms and after one month the LL serves notice (he didn't know about the separation so nothing to do with me being a single mother). I am robust but my 7 year old is suffering.

lighting_up_the_chalice

At the risk of sounding harsh, the LL is dealing with you, not your daughter. So the only reason your daughter is suffering because of the threat of eviction must be because you are facilitating that suffering. As a parent, I would have thought you would be protecting a 7 year old from such worry.

allen35

Contact your Local Council, they must have a homeless prevention team, in my area it's called homeless options where they would be looking to re-house you and support you through the process.

[Deleted User]

lighting_up_the_chalice wrote: »

At the risk of sounding harsh, the LL is dealing with you, not your daughter. So the only reason your daughter is suffering because of the threat of eviction must be because you are facilitating that suffering. As a parent, I would have thought you would be protecting a 7 year old from such worry.

No not at all. I am very positive and proactive.
I reassure her that we will never end up in the streets and everything will work out in the end.
But I think you have to agree that for a 7 year old, losing her dad from home on one month and learning that she will lose her "home" next month is a bit much…and the reason why she knows we are moving is because I answered the LL's phone call when he called me to give notice over the phone and she was next to me and heard the conversation.
I just answered his call, I had no idea what he would talk about and I had to talk to him clearly, so of course she understood what was going on. Since then she has been asking questions and I reply the best I can, but I am not hiding the fact we will have to move out at some point.
I didn't mean to imply that it is the LL's fault that my daughter is worried. My point is, if it is stressful for her right now, would a B&B make things worse? I know the long term benefit of social housing so I could endure it better, but she would not be able to fully understand it, should I put her in this situation?

Sorry if you misunderstood my post, I feel quite attacked but maybe I am too over sensitive at the moment.

Generali

lighting_up_the_chalice wrote: »

At the risk of sounding harsh, the LL is dealing with you, not your daughter. So the only reason your daughter is suffering because of the threat of eviction must be because you are facilitating that suffering. As a parent, I would have thought you would be protecting a 7 year old from such worry.

That doesn't sound harsh so much as judgemental and completely unhelpful.

I bet you wouldn't say that to the OP's face.

Poppie68

I wouldn't think you would be seen as intentionally homeless or homeless... You are moving because the LL wants the property back through no fault of yours...
Lack of time to search for a property and pack etc doesn't make you homeless either.

It's worth asking your LA about financial help with coming up with a deposit though... If they agree you will be able to pay it back when your current LL returns your deposit on this property.

Poppie68

Did you get prosecuted last year for HB fraud...You never updated the very long thread with the outcome....
You may find some LA and HA are reluctant to offer housing to an applicant under those circumstances...
As for the B&B they seem to be notoriously horrendous places and I wouldn't want to take my dog to live in one......As you live in London you could end up staying in there a very long time...
Maybe you studying can be put on the backburner to free up more time to look for a property..

Londonsu

Poppie68 wrote: »

I wouldn't think you would be seen as intentionally homeless or homeless... You are moving because the LL wants the property back through no fault of yours...
Lack of time to search for a property and pack etc doesn't make you homeless either.

It's worth asking your LA about financial help with coming up with a deposit though... If they agree you will be able to pay it back when your current LL returns your deposit on this property.

OP if your comment or no renting payment means you stop paying rent then yes not paying rent will certainly be seen as making yourself IH you need to keep paying rent


If the OP leaves before she is evicted then some council will see it as being IH most will tell people to wait until the bailiffs are at the door, stressfull for the tenants and expensive for the LL (which is why many wont take HB tenants) but with too few council properties and too many people wanting them councils feel they have no choice.