Private tenant, on benefits and landlord decides to sell - do you go to the top of the housing list?

stupidaspie

This is what somone told me today - that they know someone in this situation who's applied for housing and they're "at the top of the list" for that reason. I'm not sure this person is a credible source, so does anyone know if this applies in North Tyneside?

joshiesaunt

No, that’s not correct.  Social Housing is assessed on a needs base and points/Band awarded accordingly if the application is accepted.

wilfred30

stupidaspie said:

This is what somone told me today - that they know someone in this situation who's applied for housing and they're "at the top of the list" for that reason. I'm not sure this person is a credible source, so does anyone know if this applies in North Tyneside?

It doesn't apply to anywhere in the UK let alone North Tyneside.    

stupidaspie

I'm on the housing list myself so I know broadly speaking how the allocation of property works. As I understand it, the council assesses an applicant's needs based on their circumstances, and in the above scenario, it seems possible that you'd be assessed as having an urgent need for rehousing.

wilfred30

stupidaspie said:

I'm on the housing list myself so I know broadly speaking how the allocation of property works. As I understand it, the council assesses an applicant's needs based on their circumstances, and in the above scenario, it seems possible that you'd be assessed as having an urgent need for rehousing.

No it doesn't at all.  For a start, it could take months for a LL to sell the property and, even then, if they sell it to another LL, the tenant doesn't even have to move out.  Also, even if it isn't sold to another LL, there's nothing stopping the tenant renting another property as they'll be given enough notice to find alternative accommodation.

tacpot12

Only if you have some need that is not mentioned above. Just being on benefits is not indicative of being in priority need of housing. If you are disabled, have children, have health conditions, you might well go to the highest category on the waiting list, you won't go to the top as there will be people who have the same or greater needs who will have been waiting longer.  

AdrianC

Even if the landlord does sell the property, that simply means the tenancy continues with a different landlord. Sale does not end the tenancy.

The landlord may give notice, of course... But there's nothing different there to any other s21 notice. The three month notice simply means that the tenant joins the big line of people who no possession action can be taken against until the courts reopen eventually post-covid...

mimi1234

Not at all!  If you approached the local authority, they would want to know how long it has been on the market, the likelihood of it selling etc.  I think the local authority has to step in and work with the applicant if they are at risk of homelessness in the next 56 days (could be wrong with the exact count).  With the pandemic going on, there might not be much they are able to do straight away.

Besides, the local authority would be telling you to look for other private rented accommodation too and applying to housing associations.  They are really pushing hostels and shared accommodation too!

My local authority are now pushing private rented accommodation as council stock is running low.  So if you were not intentionally homeless and had priority, you might get help towards a bond to another private rented property instead of being offered a council property.

greatcrested

stupidaspie said:

This is what somone told me today - that they know someone in this situation who's applied for housing and they're "at the top of the list" for that reason.

Quite right.

The council will rightly prioritise you for the best available council/social housing available over any single mothers (or fathers), disabled people, or other disdavantaged applicants who are, let's face it, in reality little more than scroungers off the state as opposed to you who has been able to afford private housing but been unfortunate with the specific property you've been living in.

(Now, before I get reported and banned, let me make it clear these are not MY beliefs, but those of a minority of tax-payers with too much time on their hands).

theartfullodger

Somehow think that single parent with 3 kids under 10 who's home has burnt   down/ been flooded/ been blown up might possibly be higher priority than you.

Anyway Landlord selling - or having sold - does not end tenancy not compel tenant to leave.  New owner simply becomes new landlord, even if outside with removals van and nowhere else to sleep that night.

[Deleted User]

It depends somewhat on the borough what priority you will be given.  When my LL was selling our private rental, because I had children with special needs it meant the council had a duty to provide housing but I had to prove that one room housing would pose risks (so could have ended up in B&B or a hostel).  We were then allocated a council property as emergency housing, which was rare and fortunate but it was on a sink estate so woken up most nights by drug users and drunks making noise just underneath the property.

I heard stories from other people in emergency housing on the estate having been there for two years with no real chance of a permanent property because in my borough, being homeless automatically put you in the lowest band of housing priority (not every borough does this) regardless of other priorities that would put you in a higher band if you weren't homeless.  Properties in my borough that could be bidded on generally went to people with an A or B priority.  I had a D priority.  

I quietly kept enquiring what could be done to improve the situation (because the emergency accommodation was a lot better than a hostel but noisy with lots of stairs difficult to manage with my physcial problems).  But no one seemed to be listening at Housing.  Then they must have decided they'd had enough of my emails.  I was told I had two weeks to basically do a house swap with another family in emergency housing who were deaf and mostly dumb, with other special needs that made communicatiing difficult (I have some difficulties myself as we are all autistic).  They didn't want to move at all so refused to communicate or let us view the property.  Council just told me to sort it out.  They also said unless I did move I would be found voluntarily homeless.  It was only when I pointed out I couldn't move unless the other family communicated and agreed to move out the council vaguely started to help (sent them the sort of emails I'd been getting instructing me to move or else).  So we agreed to move the day before my final date.  

So we moved, then I discovered all sort of repair problems that still  haven't been fixed plus textured plaster on the walls that in spots is falling off the walls and in others its concrete.  I have arthritis so mucho pain removing it (and in that hallways it goes up 4m).  The council didn't do an inspection because previous tenants wouldn't agree.  Biggest laugh is I was told I'd viewed the property the day before moving so knew what I was getting (bear in mind I was clearly told if I didn't move I would be on the streets so could hardly refuse the property).  I have holes in the bedroom flooring, stairs with cracks in it, other things.  So a permanent home in a slightly better estate, a third the price of private rental but there are compromises.  I am presently trying to level the small back garden, mucho pain again.  A couple of hours digging with breaks and I'm out of it.  With kids to look after who also have special needs.  I'm dreading a rain storm because then I'll have mud everywhere (I have dogs, great joy lol).  But I can't use the garden much as it was.  Council doesn't give a damn.  Personally I don't think this property should have been allocated without an inspection but it seems there are loopholes the council uses.

I am lucky to have social housing, the rent is much less than private rental but the process has been as stressful as it could possibly be.  I can't be evicted because the LL wants to sell but there are compromises.  In my borough being homeless does not give you priority, it actually makes you worse off in terms of priority.  But my borough seems to be unusual in that.  It all seems perfectly legal as well to do this.

I'd advise looking online for your borough's housing policy and phoning them.  Don't, whatever you do take a 'friend's' word for this or our word for it,we don't know your borough's policies.