Landlord Selling House - Questions on Finding New Property

ScramHorizon

Hi there,

My partner and I have been renting our current property via an estate agency for about 18 months. Had no issues -- however the house owner is going into a care home and her son is having to sell the house to cover the costs. So we were given our eviction 6 months notice around 2 months ago and have applied for a few properties since with no luck (property are in very high demand in our area, with many people going for the same property.)

So, we're still looking for a 2+ bedroom property to rent that accept a hypoallergenic dog. We're signed up for property alerts and have a local estate agency who have advised us they will alert us of any property that meets are criteria before it is listed online.

I'm a realist and know that there's a very good chance we might not get a property in the local area before our tenancy is up. So I have a few questions;

1.) Can we apply for council housing despite the fact we still have a few months on our notice?

2.) My partner works full time on a very decent salary, I'm receiving benefits for a medical issue I'm seeing specialists about. However I can't help feel that me not being "working" is and will go against us on our applications - is there any way to avoid this going against us? Hard to word what I mean, so sorry if that doesn't fully make sense. (We can fully afford all houses we've applied for previously, my partner could afford it on her salary alone)

3.) Is there any other methods or avenues of renting?

Thanks to anyone who can help in any way, much appreciated.

ScramHorizon

We're in Scotland, for what it's worth.

canaldumidi

ScramHorizon said:

We're in Scotland, for what it's worth.

Worth a lot!

See

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6326967/landlord-wants-end-tenancy-but-cant#latest

theartfullodger

ScramHorizon said:

Hi there,

My partner and I have been renting our current property via an estate agency for about 18 months. Had no issues -- however the house owner is going into a care home and her son is having to sell the house to cover the costs. So we were given our eviction 6 months notice around 2 months ago .............

You also note "" We're in Scotland, for what it's worth. """


I doubt very much it's an eviction notice, much more likely a notice of possible tribunal action. Son may not understand what they are doing...

What sort of tenancy ? (presumably PRT??).  This is very important!

What exactly was the notice, please? Was it a formal "Notice to leave" noting intention to sell ?? Looking like... 
https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/form/2017/11/private-residential-tenancy-prescribed-notices-forms/documents/notice-to-leave/7de8561a-c689-463e-b196-bdbe2dee347b/7de8561a-c689-463e-b196-bdbe2dee347b/govscot:document/111+011021+-+1+PRESCRIBED+NOTICES+AND+FORMS+-+COVID-19+-+PDF+version+-+Notice+to+Leave+-+created+August+2021.pdf

- please?

see also btw
https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/eviction/eviction_of_private_tenants/eviction_of_private_residential_tenancy_tenants

Slàinte mhath!

ScramHorizon

canaldumidi said:

ScramHorizon said:

We're in Scotland, for what it's worth.

Worth a lot!

See

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6326967/landlord-wants-end-tenancy-but-cant#latest

Thanks for the reply, but not sure what the thread you linked to has to do with my thread?

We've been served notice 2 months or so ago via email by the estate agency and then paperwork from 2 housing officers in uniform. I'm not trying to fight being evicted, just looking for advise on finding a new property.

Thank you.

theartfullodger

ScramHorizon said:

..............

Thanks for the reply, but not sure what the thread you linked to has to do with my thread?

We've been served notice 2 months or so ago via email by the estate agency and then paperwork from 2 housing officers in uniform. I'm not trying to fight being evicted, just looking for advise on finding a new property.

Thank you.

Housing officers or Sheriff's officers? 

ScramHorizon

theartfullodger said:

ScramHorizon said:

..............

Thanks for the reply, but not sure what the thread you linked to has to do with my thread?

We've been served notice 2 months or so ago via email by the estate agency and then paperwork from 2 housing officers in uniform. I'm not trying to fight being evicted, just looking for advise on finding a new property.

Thank you.

Housing officers or Sheriff's officers? 

Sorry, Sheriff Officer's. With an individual notice for my partner and I.

ScramHorizon

ScramHorizon said:

theartfullodger said:

ScramHorizon said:

..............

Thanks for the reply, but not sure what the thread you linked to has to do with my thread?

We've been served notice 2 months or so ago via email by the estate agency and then paperwork from 2 housing officers in uniform. I'm not trying to fight being evicted, just looking for advise on finding a new property.

Thank you.

Housing officers or Sheriff's officers? 

Sorry, Sheriff Officer's. With an individual notice for my partner and I.

The letter states "You are hereby served with attached Notice to Leave Landlord's Notice to a Tenant to Leave under Section (1)(a) of the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016, together with Order of Care and Protection dated 20 December 2020; so that you may not pretend ignorance of same."

theartfullodger

'phone Shelter Scotland (experts on all landlord /tenant matters) & see if it sounds valid.  Did it look like link I provided earlier & stating Landlord wants to sell?

Penalties if his grounds turn out untrue is up to 6 months rent to tenant.

elsien

If the social housing situation is the same in Scotland as in England then unless you are priority for some reason then don’t have any expectations  of them housing you any time soon. If at all. 
Have you looked up the banding criteria on your local authority website? 

It’s better to be realistic about what they can offer. 

ScramHorizon

Just to clarify, I'm not disputing the eviction - it was all done by the correct procedure as I far as I can tell.

It's more the questions asked in my opening message;

1.) Can we apply for council housing despite the fact we still have a few months on our notice?

2.) My partner works full time on a very decent salary, I'm receiving benefits for a medical issue I'm seeing specialists about. However I can't help feel that me not being "working" is and will go against us on our applications - is there any way to avoid this going against us? Hard to word what I mean, so sorry if that doesn't fully make sense. (We can fully afford all houses we've applied for previously, my partner could afford it on her salary alone)

3.) Is there any other methods or avenues of renting?