Buying a flat but tenants aren't leaving

Londonsu

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

If they are evicted for no fault of their own they will then be able to claim homelessness and be priority for any social housing available, which will give them a secure long term tenancy at below market rate.

Would they? It would very much depend on the type of tenant and the local council a young couple/single mother with kids and a low income or on benefits may get priority and it may not even be a council property but a LL from a councils list who takes HB tenants or people on a low income or even temporary housing, but a professional couple on a good income wont get priority on council housing not with waiting lists such as they are, if you have watched 'how to get a council house' you will have seen it aint that easy any more, very very few people can just walk in the their local housing department and come away with the keys to a nice council house with a long term tenancy now

dancingfairy

Some people lie. Maybe the landlord said they could have a long term tenancy then moved the goalposts. Maybe the tenant thought they would have longer or their financial situation changed, maybe they thought they would get a council house out of it. Who know.
How long it takes to evict them is a definite how long is a piece of string. Assuming the notice was served correctly then the landlord has to go to court (this depends on how organised the landlord is and how busy the courts are). The tenants may then apply for 28 days grace or something similar. With a court order the landlord them will need to appoint bailiffs. It obviously then depends on how busy the bailiffs are etc etc.
Clearly things can go wrong at every stage (or the tenants may decide to do the decent thing and leave) we just don't know.
You could be looking at 4-6 months here (assuming the notice is valid).
Sorry, you're just going to have to wait it out or start looking elsewhere as you don't have any rights in this situation as you don't own the house.
Df

theartfullodger

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

If they are evicted for no fault of their own they will then be able to claim homelessness and be priority for any social housing available, which will give them a secure long term tenancy at below market rate.

Doubt it.

Firstly would they qualify - there are 5 tests, intentionally homeless being only 1 (eg are they eligible, are they in priority need). see
http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/homelessness/help_from_the_council_when_homeless

Secondly, if they pass all 5 tetsts, since Dave's Localism Act council can discharge their "housing duty" by merely offering a private let of at least 12 months - often miles away - at market rate. Slough have been rehousing such persons in Leicester, Birmingham or Doncaster.

Thirdly likely even if accepted to be placed temporarily in homeless shelter or homeless B&B whilst case examined - places you & me probably would not wish to live in.

rosie383

Unfortunately there are too many people who will hold out for a very long time in the hope of getting a council property. I know of families who have been in this situation and were prepared to spend months living in temporary emergency accommodation rather than privately rent. Some rent increases have been ridiculous in this area, going up by £400/month in one jump so the amount of people on the waiting lists just grows and grows.

Guest101

Considering the OP is renting, I'd of thought they'd sympathise and even be glad that they themselves could not simply be turfed out.