Is there anywhere I can make a plea for help

lulalola

Deanna, just to reiterate what someone said earlier about posting on any local Facebook groups you can find - do give this a go. Recently saw a post on a general local group for my area from a lady who had no money and no stuff - not even carpets for her flat - and posted asking if anyone had any old stuff they could donate. She got a very positive response. People on the whole are kind.

Sending you all the positive vibes I can.

missbiggles1

deannatrois wrote: »

lol.., do you want me to take a photo of my dog eared copy with notes on it..,I've already said I've looked at it and even read it out to the housing officer dealing with my case.

No I haven't been asked to make a homeless application. Yet. Can't force them to do it. Its awful how they just leave you to worry until the possession order or bailiffs paperwork turns up.

Thank you Newshadow but I did look, and it seems StoreMates is quite a bit cheaper and is more local. If I have to convert from a 3 bed house to a 1 bed flat, I'll probably incur the higher charges (£43 - £53 a week) which won't be easy to pay on top of the court fees, and service charges I'm expecting to have to pay. I may not be able to even take my bed if a 1 bed flat as I'll have to sleep on sofa with my son (do back a lot of good, not). I was quite surprised how much less expensive StoreMates was compared to commercial storage units. I'll probably have to get some insurance myself though but won't be much.

Sorry, only trying to be helpful!

pelirocco

missbiggles1 wrote: »

You might find this storage facility useful for you.
http://www.kentstorage.co.uk/self-storage-in-gravesend.html

You could put your non essential stuff in storage now, leaving just mattresses etc until the last moment.

Good luck

Self storage companies are expensive , approach removal companies with storage that Will allow you to puff your own stuff into store....however storage costs still young up

silvercar

which won't be easy to pay on top of the court fees, and service charges I'm expecting to have to pay.

Hold on a minute. Don't feel pressurised to pay these straight away. Your landlord is evicting you, no obligation on you to pay his charges immediately. Indeed, there is some debate about whether you would be liable for all the charges at all. If the landlord decides to use a higher court to secure a quicker eviction, that doesn't mean you have to pay his costs in doing so. The fact that he is going through this process is part and parcel of being a landlord, he may be entitled to some of these costs to be repaid, he may not. An arrears case is more likely to be decided in the landlords favour as that is a debt. Securing an eviction doesn't work that the evicted has to pay the costs.

missbiggles1

pelirocco wrote: »

Self storage companies are expensive , approach removal companies with storage that Will allow you to puff your own stuff into store....however storage costs still young up

I disagree and have used them for years, they're like having an extra room but much cheaper than buying a larger home.

The OP only needs it as a temporary measure anyway.

NewShadow

It might also be a case of evaluating the stuff you're talking about keeping - If it's really good quality, will be tough to replace, or has sentimental value, then yes, it's sensible to look at paying storage costs if you can afford it.

If it's a cheap flatpack it's sensible to consider selling, donating or chucking it and replacing what you need when you're settled.

Out of my 2 bed, everything that's realistically worth keeping would likely fit in the single bedroom if logically packed.

Andypandyboy

http://www.porchlight.org.uk/

http://www.beyondhomelessness.org.uk/

http://www.kentautistic.com/what-we-do/

http://medway-magic.org/

I can't help with anything practical as I live oop north, but the above links may be of use. The first two are charities relating to housing , the second two relate to ASD.

In your situtation I would contact them all and explain the problems. I appreciate that is easier said than done, exposing your fears to others is never easy. People are kind though, and if you give them a chance I am sure many people would help.

Approach your local church too, and the schools your children attend. I wish you well and hope things improve for you soon.

pmlindyloo

I know I keep carping on about the legal requirements of your council and it doesn't help when they don't take any notice of them but now you have confirmed a few things I want to suggest the following.

Before you received the court possession order you had, in effect, a legal right to occupy the accommodation and the council seems to have interpreted it this way. Now you have the court order they should allow you make a homeless application as you have no legal right to occupy. They are obviously interpreting the law to mean that you can occupy the accommodation until the bailiffs put you out but they have to allow the homeless application because you will become homeless. Nothing will now prevent this.

I am not trying to minimise this as your council do seem to be complete ***** but merely saying where they might be challenged.

So, my original advice stands. Now you have the possession order go to the council and make a homeless application. You need to do this so that they consider your application and declare you homeless (OK they have already sort of done this but the principle stands)

At the same time ask about the storage and financial assistance.

If they refuse to allow the application or say 'come back when the bailiffs knock on the door' then I have one more suggestion.

Now this will take a good degree of 'fight' but from your previous 'battles' I am hoping that you are up for it.

Contact your local newspaper and give them the full story including the incompetence of your MP.

You have two children and disabilities in the family. Your treatment has been shocking to say the least.

Hopefully the local paper will pick it up and run it as a 'Homeless at Christmas' type thing. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. This sort of publicity is not for everyone but for the sake of all your family it may be necessary.

[Deleted User]

I am very glad of all your comments, really appreciate them.

The LL asked for the court costs today, and unfortunately the PO orders that they be paid by 25th. I've asked the LL to take them out of my deposit. Will be over half of it, but its less hurtful than trying to get the money together myself. Obviously going to have removal costs I need to cover, will need to buy some sort of oven (no transport so no ebay).

I will definitely be at the council offices first thing Monday.

The beds and sofas are worth keeping. Some of the stuff isn't but I may not have the time to take it down the dump. A lot of the questions as to what I should keep is 'worse case scenario' because I don't know if the council will put me in a tiny one bed or whatever. The housing guy said verbally I won't be in shared lettings based on the documents and long letter I wrote to make a case against being put in one room shared lettings.., but who knows what will be available on the day?

I've gotten rid of a lot of stuff (3/4 of my books and lots of clothes for instance but I seem to have reached my limit as far as sorting is concerned. Now I'm getting headless chicken syndrome. Unable to decide. But I think I will have to have another go at reducing 'stuff' that isn't worth keeping that I can throw out (not dump as no car).

Porchlight already asked for help but they give emotional support help for a certain time, I've already used up that. Will see if Sanctuary Housing will advise on storage, but they aren't easily obtainable. I can check out the others.

If there's stuff I can't keep around me due to lack of space..,its likely to be like that for a year. Hard to approximate. But could be a year before I find long term accommodation unless the council force me into another private rental, which legally they can do after 12 weeks. Hoping that won't happen cause could be here again in a year and rent will be so expensive.

I totally take on board the newspaper idea, but rather nervous about doing something like that. To be honest, I doubt anyone will care. Don't want to risk the situation being reported badly and I become a representative of 'bad choices/bad tenant' article.., even though I can't see I've done anything that fits that description. I suspect there are quite a lot of us around. I think a lot of people will feel I shouldn't be benefit dependent etc. Even on here, a lot of people have suggest I should just move to a cheaper area, don't appreciate the difficulties that would cause.

I will try and find a suitable facebook group. Think its my head, its one of the things I'm struggling with, making decisions - made worse by having no real idea what I'm going to end up in. Crystal ball sorely needed lol.

You are all really helping though. Making me look at things and putting a fresh viewpoint on them.

Dizzy_Ditzy

Have a look at "streetlife" in your area. There may be someone on there who may be able to help you

I wish you the best of luck