Can i choose where to go if i am going to be made homeless on the council?

JenP85

Hello. 
I suffer with Autism and ADHD (Both diagnosed) and currently being going through with being diagnosed with CPTSD.

I am currently living in a one bedroom flat in Somerset which costs £730PCM. I claim Universal credit with PIP and housing benefit.

My landlord sadly passed away three month ago and their son is who has inherited the house has decided to sell. He's given me 30 days notice. When i first got the flat 2 years back my mother helped pay for the fee's etc but sadly i don't have help anymore as shes passed. 

I don't have the amount savings it would take to cover fee's, month in advance, moving vans (not that I have much) etc to move.

I have spent the last two weeks contacting estate agents etc and i don't think i will be able to afford the fees or pass credit checks because I am not working. They said that they like for ppl to be earning 18k+ and advised me to contact the council. 

I have contacted the council who have said they can't do anything until the day I am 'homeless'. This is causing me crippling anxiety as I struggle with change.
My one fear is they will give me a room in a shared house or to an area near me that is seen as a very bad area. People are always being mugged or beaten up there and I am petrified of going near there on my own let alone living there.
I struggle with communication and i wouldn't feel safe in a shared house. Please don't think i am being snobby for saying that. I just struggle to be around people even friends.

I don't have any friends of family I can stay with.

Will the council take my needs into consideration or will they see me as just being 'picky'. i am honestly not. 

user1977

They should take your needs into consideration, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll have any better options available.

AlexMac

Very best wishes with your predicament. 

I can’t comment on how the Council will help you, but are you already in touch with Local Charities who might be able to offer advice, support or sympathetic help. 

Look at 
https://discovery-uk.org/

Who describe themselves as “supporting autistic people and people with learning disabilities in Somerset to get more from life”.

There are other similar charities ; you could Google “Affinity Trust”, “You First Support Services”, or “ Compass Disability Services Taunton”…

very best wishes. 

Owain_Moneysaver

It depends on the council, but in many you will be moved into temporary/homeless accommodation first, then have high priority for a council tenancy - which could still take many months to become available.

If you’re single and under 35 years old
Your Housing Benefit will usually be limited to enough to pay for a bedsit or a room in a shared house or flat. This means that if you rent a 1-bed flat by yourself, your payment might not cover your full rent.

If you’re disabled
The limit won’t usually apply if you get one of these benefits:

• Personal Independence Payment including the daily living component

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/housing-benefit/help-with-your-housing-benefit-claim/check-how-much-housing-benefit-you-can-get/#:~:text=Your Housing Benefit will usually,a child or a flatmate

You should ensure you have applied for Medical Points on your housing application if you have not already done so. 

silvercar

Why does your new landlord think that 30 days notice is sufficient? Presuming you have a standard AST that is beyond the end of the fixed term and so is a periodic tenancy, he is required to give you 2 months notice. If you are still in a fixed term, then you have til the end of the fixed term.

even beyond having been given notice, there is no obligation on you to move, you could stay until the landlord goes to court, secures an eviction notice and sends bailiffs to evict you. In fact, some councils will tell you to stay put until that point.

elsien

You will need to register for social housing and gather the evidence to show that you have a priority made, and that certain types of accommodation may not be suitable for you.
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homelessness/priority_need/health_condition_or_disability
The council may not help until you’re actually evicted, but you still need to be registered with them if you aren’t already. Then you can discuss with the housing officer what you need to go in terms of what might be available.

Do you have any day-to-day support at all or any professional is currently involved other than your GP? It would be helpful if you’ve got paperwork, you could wave at them to back up what you’re saying.

Brie

I suggest you do your best and try talking to your local citizen's advice.  They can let you know if the eviction is being done legally - many aren't so you might have lots of time still.

The other thing is to talk to the chap who now owns your flat and ask for his assistance.  One thing he can do is provide a reference for you - just a letter saying how long you've lived there, that you are quiet, causing no issues for the neighbours and always pay your rent on time.  That will help a lot trying to get a new place.  

I suspect he is asking you to leave because it's easier to sell a place without a tenant in it.  But the sale may take months so likely there's not actually any need for you to leave too quickly.  

RAS

It looks like your inherited landlord is a rank amateur.

He can't tell you to leave in 30 days. That's illegal. He can give you notice that if you don't leave in two months, from the day he gets it right, he is allowed to take you to court and ask from permission to force you to leave.

Many Councils will count you as voluntarily homeless and refuse to help if you leave before the bailiffs arrive. Hope @deannagone picks this up as she has personal experience.

GrumpyDil

Glad for people pointing this out but OP do not voluntarily move out as most councils will say you are only homeless once you have been evicted. As a landlord I definately don't agree with that but you have to protect yourself. 

FreeBear

RAS said:

It looks like your inherited landlord is a rank amateur.

Has this individual notified the OP in writing of the change of landlord's name & address ?

BobT36

FreeBear said:

RAS said:

It looks like your inherited landlord is a rank amateur.

Has this individual notified the OP in writing of the change of landlord's name & address ?

To be fair, someone inheriting a family's rented property is the only true "accidental landlord" I can think of, so many aren't going to know all the rules and regs, and indeed be an "amateur". 

Still gotta abide by them, though!