The system is broken

SeasideShuffle

My daughter has been renting for about six years after being homeless. She had a lot of help from the council who found her a letting agent who was very supportive. Unfortunately the properties he has been managing are all being sold off after the death of the landlady. She cannot get any estate agents whatsoever to allow her to even view properties let alone try to apply for a rental. A previous abusive relationship means she has debts which she was forced into. The council don't seem interested and are just resigned to the fact they may have to place her in a hostel without any sign of getting her out again. She has never been in rent arrears but this seems to count for nothing. She is well and truly stuck because even if she clears the debt (which is possible), it will be on the record for six years. The hostel may also be up to 15 miles from where she has been living, which would probably mean her partner losing his job as he has no transport. It's just crazy.

Section62

SeasideShuffle said:

My daughter has been renting for about six years after being homeless. She had a lot of help from the council who found her a letting agent who was very supportive. Unfortunately the properties he has been managing are all being sold off after the death of the landlady. She cannot get any estate agents whatsoever to allow her to even view properties let alone try to apply for a rental. A previous abusive relationship means she has debts which she was forced into. The council don't seem interested and are just resigned to the fact they may have to place her in a hostel without any sign of getting her out again. She has never been in rent arrears but this seems to count for nothing. She is well and truly stuck because even if she clears the debt (which is possible), it will be on the record for six years. The hostel may also be up to 15 miles from where she has been living, which would probably mean her partner losing his job as he has no transport. It's just crazy.

What is "the system" supposed to do which it isn't?

Is the partner in debt?  Can he get somewhere to rent?

theartfullodger

The sale of a property does not end a tenancy nor compel a tenant to leave: New owner becomes new landlord.

Has landlord/owner served daughter with any notices e.g. section 21 please?? Even if that, that notice does not end tenancy nor compel tenant to leave: Only a court then bailiffs can do that.

I agree, system bust: Badly: The government is failing - in many ways - with it's primary duty to look after the people.

Best wishes:  Artful: Wicked landlord

RogerBareford

SeasideShuffle said:

My daughter has been renting for about six years after being homeless. She had a lot of help from the council who found her a letting agent who was very supportive. Unfortunately the properties he has been managing are all being sold off after the death of the landlady. She cannot get any estate agents whatsoever to allow her to even view properties let alone try to apply for a rental. A previous abusive relationship means she has debts which she was forced into. The council don't seem interested and are just resigned to the fact they may have to place her in a hostel without any sign of getting her out again. She has never been in rent arrears but this seems to count for nothing. She is well and truly stuck because even if she clears the debt (which is possible), it will be on the record for six years. The hostel may also be up to 15 miles from where she has been living, which would probably mean her partner losing his job as he has no transport. It's just crazy.

So she was homeless and the council have helped her to find a property for six years and even if she can't find another she will still have a hostel to live in. So that sounds like the system worked to give her somewhere to live.

Why hasn't she managed to sort her debts in the 6 years that she was living there?

With two adults working i'm surprised they can't find anywhere to live.

caprikid1

SeasideShuffle said:

My daughter has been renting for about six years after being homeless. She had a lot of help from the council who found her a letting agent who was very supportive. Unfortunately the properties he has been managing are all being sold off after the death of the landlady. She cannot get any estate agents whatsoever to allow her to even view properties let alone try to apply for a rental. A previous abusive relationship means she has debts which she was forced into. The council don't seem interested and are just resigned to the fact they may have to place her in a hostel without any sign of getting her out again. She has never been in rent arrears but this seems to count for nothing. She is well and truly stuck because even if she clears the debt (which is possible), it will be on the record for six years. The hostel may also be up to 15 miles from where she has been living, which would probably mean her partner losing his job as he has no transport. It's just crazy.

I guess as a parent I would be looking to help with a deposit and rent guarantee etc  but happy as a tax payer to fix this.

Schwarzwald

Section62 said:

SeasideShuffle said:

My daughter has been renting for about six years after being homeless. She had a lot of help from the council who found her a letting agent who was very supportive. Unfortunately the properties he has been managing are all being sold off after the death of the landlady. She cannot get any estate agents whatsoever to allow her to even view properties let alone try to apply for a rental. A previous abusive relationship means she has debts which she was forced into. The council don't seem interested and are just resigned to the fact they may have to place her in a hostel without any sign of getting her out again. She has never been in rent arrears but this seems to count for nothing. She is well and truly stuck because even if she clears the debt (which is possible), it will be on the record for six years. The hostel may also be up to 15 miles from where she has been living, which would probably mean her partner losing his job as he has no transport. It's just crazy.

What is "the system" supposed to do which it isn't?

Is the partner in debt?  Can he get somewhere to rent?

^^ this!
OP’s posting reads like LOADS of expectations and entitlement, I am sorry to say that.

and since when does moving 15miles mean losing a job? No transport? Not even a bicycle? Ahhh yes, the system needs to provide for a car (which make?) and ideally a driving license on top. 

And if the “system is broke” what about your family’s support system or is that broken too? Why is she not moving in with you?

canaldumidi

Obviously we only know the bare bones of the situation, but based purely on what you say I tend to go along with the comments above. The 'system' has helped her for 6 years, and will also prevent her being homeless again. OK a hotel is not ideal but there is obviously a limit to what the tax-payer/system can or should do.

Having said all that, why is she leavng the current tenancy? Has she been served a S21 Notice? is it valid? Have you/she checked?

S21 checklist (Is a S21 valid?)

The sale of the property in itself does not end the tenancy, nor oblige her to leave. Only a court can end the tenancy (following a valid S21).

Finally, if you offer to be a guarantor, many LLs and/or letting agents will consider her, assuming you meet the required credit levels

Now read

Post 4: Ending/renewing an AST: what happens when a fixed term ends? How can a LL or tenant end a tenancy? What is a periodic tenancy?

(note - the above assumes she is in Eng/Wales).

sidneyvic

Sounds like her family is broken, I mean why is her mother and family not helping with the situation and rather than expecting the government to house them. Maybe they should also be helping themselves ? Sounds like they have already had a lot of help, there is only so much you can do.

Woolsery

The 'system' has traditionally been very different from what people have come to expect in relatively recent history. With the foreseeable end of an oil based economy, there's no way the state will be be able to sustain the role of family support, except perhaps in the most extreme cases.

Tiglet2

SeasideShuffle said:

My daughter has been renting for about six years after being homeless. She had a lot of help from the council who found her a letting agent who was very supportive. Unfortunately the properties he has been managing are all being sold off after the death of the landlady. She cannot get any estate agents whatsoever to allow her to even view properties let alone try to apply for a rental. A previous abusive relationship means she has debts which she was forced into. The council don't seem interested and are just resigned to the fact they may have to place her in a hostel without any sign of getting her out again. She has never been in rent arrears but this seems to count for nothing. She is well and truly stuck because even if she clears the debt (which is possible), it will be on the record for six years. The hostel may also be up to 15 miles from where she has been living, which would probably mean her partner losing his job as he has no transport. It's just crazy.

If your daughter wants to improve her situation, it might be a good idea to pay off those debts.  I am sorry that the debts may be the result of an abusive relationship, but although the record may be there for six years, if she can prove the debt is settled, it may give her more choices in where she rents in the future.  I realise that this is all long term rather than now, but surely the council help should be seen as a stepping stone and safety net, rather than a long term solution.  If she and her partner do not want to go into a hostel 15 miles away, then they need to start working towards making an independent life from relying on council help.