Landlord selling property can’t afford to move

xxChellexx

Been private renting for 14 years and my landlord has informed me that he wishes to sell his property due to new laws coming in regarding energy performance and financial reasons.
I have an 18yo son and 15yo daughter, both still in full time education I work - within a mile from my current address and also have dogs.
The current rental market is dire, not much available and the ones available are at least £400 more than what I am paying now this includes the less desirable areas. My son is due to sit his A levels this summer and is currently waiting for an autism assessment referral and my daughter is in year 10 although due to problems the council are currently finding her a new school- without going in to it her mental health declined due to events although she seems to be on a steady path now.

I have informed the council but they have said to make a home choice application and call back once I have been served the S21 notice.
I am constantly worried about what the future holds, temporary accommodation? Homelessness? This has consumed my thoughts since receiving a text message from the landlord (not the best way to break the news to me)

Does anyone have any experience with council housing, bidding or temporary accommodation? I am in the Bristol area.

diystarter7

Hi OP
I'm sure posters with experts will come along and advise

From me, by all account the LL has been good to you, so give them a heads up so they can prepare for that.

This may help

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/renting-privately/during-your-tenancy/if-you-get-a-section-21-notice/

Good luck

tacpot12

Have you looked into whether you could get a mortgage to buy your home?

xxChellexx

The landlord has been good through the years and we are on good terms, unfortunately buying is not an option. Single parent just my income at the moment , get some help through tax credits and a little housing benefit.
The landlord will provide me with a great reference but it’s just not that easy to find somewhere else, get a deposit etc together and then afford the excessive rent that everyone is charging now 

theoretica

I fear what comes next is a lot of bureaucracy and you having to be the bad guy to your landlord.  Is section 21, when it comes, absolutely in order?  Have you been given all the paperwork needed for your landlord to issue a valid section 21?  The council will expect you to sit tight until the courts actually evict you.  This is why many landlords realise the way forward is to offer to pay tenants to leave, offer them a discount to buy the property themselves or try to sell to another landlord.

diystarter7

theoretica said:

I fear what comes next is a lot of bureaucracy and you having to be the bad guy to your landlord.  Is section 21, when it comes, absolutely in order?  Have you been given all the paperwork needed for your landlord to issue a valid section 21?  The council will expect you to sit tight until the courts actually evict you.  This is why many landlords realise the way forward is to offer to pay tenants to leave, offer them a discount to buy the property themselves or try to sell to another landlord.

Hi

Not if the LL is on the ball and has legal cover.  I've promised myself I would never pay a T to leave as it is not right especially when a LL has been a good LL. Hoepfully, any eviction is processed quickly and the OP can get another decent LL/place

Thnaks

MobileSaver

theoretica said:

The council will expect you to sit tight until the courts actually evict you. 

Which of course is one of the reasons why the OP finds themselves in their predicament; some landlords are just getting out of the private rental business altogether thanks to council gatekeeping policies.

xxChellexx

The council have said that once notice is served I have 2 months then a landlord will have to apply to the  courts for a repossession order? It just seems so wrong that this is the path I have to go down. I will obviously continue to pay rent to my current landlord.
I have not been given any paperwork yet just a text message informing me of his decision. I am trying to gain as much knowledge as possible for when the inevitable happens.
The thought of temporary accommodation is depressing and worrying me

bunnygo

The process is:

1) landlord gives you a valid S21 notice in the correct form. (this means gas safe, electrical certificate etc etc all up to date and legal). A text message is not a S21.

2) that is 2 months notice of legal proceedings. If you want council help, don't move.

3) when 2 months is up landlord can start legal proceedings. Lengthy delay and cost of £355 last time I looked, you will be liable for this eventually.

4) if S21 is valid (and only if) then possession order granted. You still do not have to leave

5) eventually bailiffs come (you get warning) and then you do have to go. At that point the council will put you in temporary accommodation, leave any earlier and they could deem you 'intentionally homeless' and will wash their hands of you.

this is not how it should work but it is what happens and it is dreadful.

what to do?

- keep paying the rent, of course

- keep the council informed and keep pestering, get as much as possible in writing from them.

- as Shelter campaigned hard to restrict deposits, and there is a rental property shortage, the dogs make you undesirable unless you can offer a higher rent than everyone else. Sorry, but that's what happens when campaigns aren't thought out. Their campaigns also mean that many landlords are selling up (like yours) -  property rental is getting less profitable. unfortunately this means lots more bad landlords so don't jump frying-pan to fire. Also of course no council property being built.

- get fully informed of your rights.

I'm sorry that it is so much bad news and wish you the best.

MobileSaver

xxChellexx said:

The council have said that .... It just seems so wrong that this is the path I have to go down. I will obviously continue to pay rent to my current landlord.

It might get even worse though as the landlord may also successfully apply for costs against you of perhaps £400 or more - perhaps ask the council if they're going to pay this as they are the ones suggesting you follow this path?

Martico

Wish you all the best - I'm in Bristol and you're right, the rental market is insane. Sadly also the waiting lists for council accommodation are very long, even for those deemed priorities. I wouldn't pin your hopes on that, but certainly get yourselves on a list.
I suspect you might have to widen your search and prepare for longer school trips, ie if you're in Easton, start looking beyond Speedwell; if you're in Southville, start looking more to Knowle or Hengrove. It's probably not what you want to hear, but it seems to be the reality at the moment unfortunately. Use the local FB groups - I imagine you already do.