Frugal, thrifty, make do, mend! Let this debt come to an end!

Elisheba

Morning, frugal friends,

Well, it has been a very eventful and stressful couple of days here at Casa Elisheba. A couple of days ago, and utterly out of the blue, I was given 2 months notice that I need to move out of my little house. Still can't quite believe it to be honest. I was literally shaking when I got the phonecall (and later by email whatever the official form is).

It feels horrendously unfair, like I've done something wrong, despite the fact I know I've been a perfectly good tenant. All the bills and rent are always paid on time, my house inspections go well, I keep them informed about anything that needs done. When I asked why the estate agent just said she thought the owners wanted to do some work to the property.

I do appreciate that owners circumstances might change, but 2 months notice in the current climate isn't really good enough. Six months if it's no fault would be a lot better, with the understanding that a tenant could move out at any point within that notice period. It would allow for time for financial planning, and give tenants the time to look around for a suitable place.

As it is I've now got just over 2 months (the date I've been given is 10th January) to find a place that will take me and 3 pets, which with the rental market just now will not be easy at all. Most places don't take pets, and even the places that do can have 80+ applicants, so preference will no doubt be given to the people without them. I am absolutely terrified I am going to end up homeless to be honest. I'd end up having to crash with my elderly mum, who doesn't care for my dog and to be fair he is way to bouncy and hyper for her with her disabilities, and she lives in Scotland so how would I get to work or be able to view houses?

I am being proactive, and have 2 viewings this week. Both are a lot further from work (they are on the border with Wales) and would mean a 3 hour commute both ways on a Friday to the office. I've really settled into my local area and have friends here, and it will be so sad to leave, but there is nothing locally suitabke. The houses I am viewing are fine though, and have gardens which would be a bonus. I just have all fingers and toes crossed that one of them works out. Then at least I will know what's happening and he able to plan. 

Realistically I don't want to pay more than £800 a month, although I've looked at my budget and could stretch to £900 if absolutely necessary. It might end up being necessary, as of the 10 places I've messaged these are the only 2 that have gotten back to me. I suppose going forward that as long as I'm on the ball I'll spot suitable houses early before they have had their viewing days. I do wish Rightmove took off the places who are no longer viewing, even if the lease isn't signed yet. I'm not sure there will be many places going up for rent the 2 months before Xmas though.

Added onto that we are about to go through another consultation at work, and our job grades are being re-evaluated. There is a distinct possibility that I'll be downgraded, and although I'll get pay protection for a year, that will be a real problem if I need to pay even more in rent. Why do these things always seem to happen at once, and why does it always seem to be just before Xmas???

Thinking of the positives though - I have a job, I have good health, I have the ability (albeit through credit cards) to pay for a move, I have a good tenant history and references, I can drive and have a car, I can be flexible on location, I have been decluttering recently so there won't be absolutely tons to sort out. My credit rating isn't excellent anymore after buying the car sadly, I think it has gone down to fair, but hopefully that will still be okay. If needs must I can sell the car and buy something cheaper which would help with the car loan. I've just got to pray that surely something will turn up? Thank God for my anti dep tablets as well, otherwise my anxiety would be through the roof!

Fingers crossed for the house I'm viewing today. I know it's extremely unlikely I'll get the first house I look at, but it's a nice house with more room than I've got currently and a big secured garden, and it's only a mile and a half from a town.

Well, that's all from me for just now. All this uncertainty has made me absolutely determined to get back to my frugal ways, and save a deposit for a house. This year hasn't been great for frugality and debt busting, especially with the new car - but even without out that I could've been about £4k less in debt than I am currently. 

Hope everyone is okay in Storm Ciaran. I need to drive an hour and half cross country this afternoon for a house viewing which will be fun! Needs must and all that though.

Cheery_Daff

Oh Elisheba, I'm so sorry, how dreadfully stressful for you. Big hugs xxx

Now, practical steps. Legally, as I understand it, they can't force you to leave on January 10th. Only YOU as the tennant can end your tenancy. That's the date that they can apply to the courts to have you evicted, but that can take several more months. 

I do appreciate you may not want to stay where you're not welcome - but I hope it will give you some reassurance that you won't be out on the street if you can't find somewhere by Jan 10th. 

Secondly, there's a very specific process landlords have to go through to evict someone - have they followed it to the letter? Because if not, you can challenge, and the clock starts all over again. Info from Shelter here:

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/eviction/section_21_eviction/how_to_check_a_section_21_notice_is_valid

Check all the bits - have they issued notice using the right form? Is your deposit properly protected? I believe the advice I've seen on the housing board is NOT to inform them if they've done it wrong until the 2 months is up, at which point they'll have to do it right and you've got another 2 months until they can apply to the court (which might take several months anyway).

I really do understand this is so stressful and you likely won't want to fight, but it might just give you a bit longer to find somewhere suitable.

Big hugs, and post on the housing board if you're unsure xxx

SuzeQStan

Good lord - mind boggles why they are doing this to you!  

CD above advice sounds excellent.

I’m just so sorry you are being put in this position.

As regards work - are you a part of the re evaluation process? are you able to ‘defend’ your role grade or is it a general process affecting all on that particular grade?  

Keeping absolutely everything crossed for your viewing today.  Drive safely - precious cargo onboard xx

fionaandphil

So sorry to hear this Elisheba and it must be super stressful for you.  As you say you are in a better position financially than you were and you are more organised.

The other thing to think about is whether this is an opportunity.  Could this be the time to look for a new job and a new home in an area that is more affordable?  I don't know what you actually do so can't say, but sometimes things just happen and it all ends up better in the end.

Sending you a big hug and hope the viewing goes well.

Fortune_Smiles

So sorry to hear you're having to go through this.  I'll keep everything crossed for you re finding a new home 🤞

Fortune x

beanielou

So sorry to read this. 

foxgloves

So sorry to read this, @Elisheba. It really does underpin the additional security of owning one's own home. It makes me so angry that this is so difficult deposit-wise for so many people, especially when they are paying as much or more per month already in rent. I hope you manage to find somewhere to reduce at least part of the stress 
Re job evaluation. I have been through that. Our professional role was downgraded but we appealed.....led by Yours Truly....gathered evidence, worked through the document to prove we worked at the same level as another similar group of colleagues with whom we'd previously had pay parity. We were successful & were put back to our former grade. Just wanted to say that JE is usually quite a long process & that it is possible to appeal. I worked in a professional role in a local authority, so trade union advice was also helpful initially, although the bulk of the appeal was done by me & a small group of colleagues.
Anyway, getting accomodation sorted out is the key thing now & I hope there will be good news on that asap.
F x

lucielle

Long time lurker. This happened to us last year, a no fault eviction after living there 20 years. It was a truly awful time. What cheery-daft says is sort of correct. If they have to go down the eviction route and get bailiffs to attend and court etc you are liable for all the costs. If you don’t pay them, they’ll also slap you with a CCJ. It is truly awful what you’re going through. 

L

Elisheba

Evening, all,

Thank you for all the advice above. I've asked my estate agent if there could be any leeway with dates and they said no. Since every place I've looked at so far and in the past has asked for my previous estate agent as a reference there is no way I would stay here after the moving out date. I'd never get accepted for another rental then. And obviously I don't want to risk getting slapped with costs and a CCJ.

All is not lost yet though. I've viewed 2 properties this week, both accept pets. I liked one much more than the other but am applying for both. Beggars can't be choosers. This weekend I'll have another search through Rightmove and see what other ones I can enquire about. I'm also going to ask on local FB noticeboards if any one knows of any private rentals that might be suitable.

A bit left of field but a friend also suggested buying a canal boat, and has given me the contact details of someone who lives on one in the city I work in to talk it through with. I know you can get an unsecured marine finance loan for up to £35k or maybe £40k, which isn't much when it comes to narrowboats, but worth looking into again.

Regarding job re-evaluation, it's a complicated situation. My work wants everyone off career grade progressions and onto fixed grades. I'm at the top of my scale, and myself and a colleague are on a higher grade than the rest of the team supposedly as we do more technical work.  However my current boss started after all the job roles were decided at the last consultation, and has never utilised myself and my colleague properly. Hence I think I would be hard pushed to defend my grade if it came to it.

In other news one of my friends offered unexpectedly to loan me money interest free for the move, so that would be good. I'll be getting my backdated pay increase in December now the union's have agreed, which will be about £900 extra in that pay packet if I remember correctly from last year, and hopefully I'll get my deposit back. So I'll be able to give him a chunk of cash fairly quickly, and we can a tree a repayment schedule for whatever is left.

I'm not sure how much the house move will cost exactly. I think I remember quotes around £1000 for removal companies, but it depends on the distance. Then a deposit and a months rent upfront, which won't be less than £1500 and probably more. Then the places I've viewed so far need some white goods - fridge freezers in both, a cooker in one, curtains, light shades, lawnmowers, garden tools. Some of that can wait obviously, but sometime need to be immediately - the cooker for instance. I have a small under counter fridge and a chest freezer that can do until I can afford a bigger one, and I have my own washing machine already. So I reckon £3 - 4k all in.

My deposit if it's returned and back dated pay will cover £1500 of that (I can't actually remember how much my deposit was for so I'm going with a month's rent), and then I would have to pay a months rent anyway so that's another £600 - 800. So I'd end owing my friend from £700 - 1900. He won't be in a rush for it as I know he has significant saving, so I could pay that back in between 6 months to 2 years. 

Otherwise things are ticking along. Barclays has cancelled the overdraft on the old joint account, which is fair enough as it huge and we never use it. We only kept it for cat bills, which my ex goes halfers with me. That have also written to me about my personal overdraft, which I do use, and said it's too high but as I use it they won't do anything about for the moment. So right at this moment that is good news, but I'll obviously need to focus on getting rid of it going forward.

The way I have sorted my bills means it's only ever used for about 2 days a month, so I reckon they are just cross as they aren't able to bleed me dry with their massively high charges. They only ever get a pound or two from me, and some months not even that. They did take my Blue Rewards charge out twice this month, and them messaged me to apologise but said it would take them a week to repay it. I'm not sure how they would feel if I said it would take me a week to repay them something, but I imagine it would tank my credit rating 😐. 

Anyway, onwards and upwards. I have a house inspection next Tuesday so need to make the house ship shape, which will be a good start for the big mouse move clear out.  Seeing a few friends firnlinch tomorrow as well which will be nice.

Hope everyone has a great weekend 😁

weenancyinAmerica

@Elisheba - sending you hugs from America. Will throw in some prayers also for a successful house hunt and a less stressful move. Best wishes.