Fear of eviction

faerielight

I am really bricking it.. The flat I'm renting is becoming an absolute nightmare for many reasons.. There's been a sewage problem for the full 5 years I've been in it. I have to bag up all my loo roll, as if I don't, I get raw sewage backing up in my shower and patio. The agency refuses to fix it, as it would involve digging up my flat. I have complied, as I didn't want to rock the boat of my tenancy and I am desperately trying to keep a roof above my head.

It has a tiny shower which I struggle with, with my disabilities as it's too small to put a seat in, but a couple of months ago, the boiler broke and I've had no hot water since, plus there's a water pressure problem with the water company has deemed it an internal problem, which the landlord should fix. So I have been forced to take freezing cold showers with a water dribble, and with no hot water to wash up in. Again, the landlord has told the agency he can't afford to fix it. Again, I have put up with this, as I don't want to lose the roof over my head. Finally, I have steep stairs and I struggle to use them.

Why I am freaking out is today, they sent a surveyor to price the flat, as apparently the landlord has died and the son has to remortgage the flat. The surveyor told me that at £700 PCM, it is way under the market rental rate, and that he wants to get £850 to £1000 PCM.

I am so terrified of eviction. Having been homeless before and in a scary hostal, I am really scared.. I think it is highly likely he will get me out, then do the repairs and re rent it at the going rate.

I have been desperately trying to get a council flat that meets my disability requirements of no stairs and either a bath or disability shower, but as band B, I am not having any luck.

As some of you know, I had life saving surgery 3 months ago, and have an 18 month recovery ahead, and am not really in a fit state to move, plus I have mental health issues, greatly exacerbated by my current living conditions. I can't rent privately as I have no deposit and as housing benefit has been capped, rent far exceeds the maximum HB, and landlords in my area are discriminating against disabled people on benefits. I wouldn't survive mentally if I moved to another area, as a predominantly housebound person I live for my (also disabled) friend to visit me in my home.
Also, I have a daily carer that I'm attached to and I really don't want to lose this care agency which only operates in this area.
My situation feels so hopeless, I am in a really vulnerable situation. I told the council about the disrepairs and they said they could put pressure on the landlord to fix them, but they warned me that I most likely would get served a section 21 eviction., and I don't want to jeopardise things. When I was homeless 5 years ago, I had my MP trying to advocate for me, and I even got myself in the papers with my homelessness story but that didn't make a blind bit of difference and the council still wouldn't house me. It is all so stressful at a time where I really need stability , security and safety to recover from this huge surgery.

It is so disgusting to be exploited so much by the agency/landlord. I still can't believe I've been living like this for so long.. I feel like I'm camping in my home! They have me over a barrel, they really do.

Savvy_Sue

this is really hard, and I do feel for you, but ...

I think you have to grit your teeth and gear up to move. I know, I know, you've not been able to get priority on the council's housing register, but possibly your surgery and the necessary recovery will help get you extra points. Do you still have the same MP? And I believe the risk of eviction helps too - once you've been given notice.

But the main reason I say this is because even if the problems with the plumbing and boiler were fixed, this isn't a good place to live for you, from some of the other things you've said - stairs, tiny shower you struggle with etc. And even if it WAS a good place, it doesn't sound as if you'll be able to stay indefinitely if it's going to be sold.

So gearing up to that sooner rather than later sounds like the best plan, however hard that will be.

faerielight

Thanks Savvy sue.. I appreciate your reply. I am desperate to get out of my sewage pit,I just wish it could be when I choose to move, not being forced to.

I think I will try and get upped to band A. I haven't had a disability assessment from the council for 4 years and my health has declined, after 5 major surgeries. I'm so ready to leave this flat! I long for my next move to be my last, and if I got a council flat, it would help my mental health as it is so stressful with all the flat probs, and I really do need the security The council know it's unsuitable, as they sent an OT to assess it and they witnessed my steep stairs and tiny shower as being unsafe. but they gave me band B at the time.I'll get a reassessment form tomorrow. I'm also going to ring my local housing advice centre. I think they have a support service for people at risk of homelessness.and those in difficult homes with disrepair.Hopefully I'll feel a bit more hopeful tomorrow .

cattie

Do you see anybody for your mental health issues, such as a psychiatrist or cpn? Only with some councils they can be very helpful in getting vulnerable people rehoused sooner rather than later.

I really feel for you, it's an awful situation to be in & can imagine just how scary the thought of becoming homeless or having to move to a hostel must be.

kingfisherblue

Even if you are a band B, you might have priority over someone who is band A if you need something specific to your disabilities. My friend was band C, but needed a downstairs bathroom for her disabled son, so was allowed to bid on suitable properties even if they were higher bands. She was successful.

Do you have contact with the housing officer for your area? Even though you are not yet a council tenant, they might be able to help. They can help with forms, may know of suitable properties that will become available soon, and can support your case for council accommodation.

Regarding the sewage problem, councils have a team who advise those in private rent. Again, worth seeking help from them. They can declare the flat unfit for human habitation, and this might help you pressure the council to find you somewhere else to live.

Finally, if there are empty properties in your area, speak to the housing officer about them. If they are just waiting for minor repairs or decoration, and you are happy to move in before these are done, there is a small chance that one will be released to you.

Good luck x

faerielight

thanks guys,I reposted in the renting action. I feel so utterly vulnerable. I don't have any mental health support, I'm on a waiting list for a BPD service, my gp is crap, she charged me £32 for 1 line saying"I support her in getting band A, no mention of my disabilities/illnesses/mental health. I am on a mobility 3 band which means I can only manage 2 stairs, but all the flats with mobility 3 that I've bidded on have gone to band A. I rang housing options today at the council, they will only assign me a worker when the courts have got a bailiff date , the uncertainty of which will make me so mentally ill with worry.I am too scared to report the sewage because the agency has already threatened retaliatory eviction.I feel like I;'ve got one more move in me, mental health wise, I've been homeless 3 times, my health is so bad, I really need my next move to be my last, if possible.

kingfisherblue

My friend wasn't assigned a worker, she just went into the local office and asked for help and advice.

faerielight

I have to go to housing benefit tomorrow, it shares the space with the council offices, I will ask for one