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

Grumpy_chap

theartfullodger said:

silvercar said:

Some people don't go out of their way to be antagonistic. 

Some do, e.g. some landlords, agents, MPs antisocial media posters...

The majority don't.
Even the majority of LL's.

theartfullodger

Grumpy_chap said:

theartfullodger said:

silvercar said:

Some people don't go out of their way to be antagonistic. 

Some do, e.g. some landlords, agents, MPs antisocial media posters...

The majority don't.
Even the majority of LL's.

Thanks.  So you agree some do try to be antagonist.. 

pmlindyloo

JenP85 said:

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. 

You have had some good advice about whether you need to leave in 4 weeks time.  Hopefully that will help with your anxiety.

There may be some help available as regards deposit, fees, rent in advance.

Have a read of this link:

Options if you cannot afford a deposit or rent in advance - Shelter England

silvercar

Grizebeck said:

silvercar said:

Grizebeck said:

jonnydeppiwish! said:

Op, if you leave at 30 days, you will be making yourself intentionally homeless and the council will do little to help you. 

Just tell the new landlord they have to do everything by the book - I suspect you’ll get 4-6 months more until a court evicts you. That’s the only way you will get help from the council, but even then it may just be a bedsit.

Why would you tell the landlord to do anything as if he makes a mistake then the court isn't going to sanction that 

Some people don't go out of their way to be antagonistic. 

It isnt about being antagonistic but if your going to struggle to find some where else to rent and could end up in some homeless shelter then with the right actions you wont be going for a good length of time
Hmmm in a B&B in 6 months time or a B&B in 12 months time  , i think the choice is quite simple

The problem is that a new home is going to have to be found, whether now or in 12 months time. People find it really unsettling to be told to stay put and wait it out. What you ideally do is explore all avenues now to secure your next home.

Grizebeck

silvercar said:

Grizebeck said:

silvercar said:

Grizebeck said:

jonnydeppiwish! said:

Op, if you leave at 30 days, you will be making yourself intentionally homeless and the council will do little to help you. 

Just tell the new landlord they have to do everything by the book - I suspect you’ll get 4-6 months more until a court evicts you. That’s the only way you will get help from the council, but even then it may just be a bedsit.

Why would you tell the landlord to do anything as if he makes a mistake then the court isn't going to sanction that 

Some people don't go out of their way to be antagonistic. 

It isnt about being antagonistic but if your going to struggle to find some where else to rent and could end up in some homeless shelter then with the right actions you wont be going for a good length of time
Hmmm in a B&B in 6 months time or a B&B in 12 months time  , i think the choice is quite simple

The problem is that a new home is going to have to be found, whether now or in 12 months time. People find it really unsettling to be told to stay put and wait it out. What you ideally do is explore all avenues now to secure your next home.

Yes but no disrespect to the OP they are going to struggle to get another place.

Olinda99

if they stay put and don't get a landlord reference they will struggle even more...

Grizebeck

Olinda99 said:

if they stay put and don't get a landlord reference they will struggle even more...

And given the fact the landlord has died does anyone think a landlord reference from an executor who just wants shot of the property is going to appear. I think they will not care.
I very much doubt the person even has probate yet in order to do this 

deannagone

Hopefully the OP will come back and give more information.  I will give more advice when the OP lets us know how far along in the eviction process they are.

However, if you do apply for housing assistance when vulnerable (mental health/ASD) you can supply information that advises being in one room accommodation with lots of other vulnerable people will put you at risk of harm.  I had to ask about this, no one at Housing informed me.  I submitted diagnoses, and letters from professionals involved in my son's care (who both have ASD) that they were unable to cope with unexpected noises, had no way to assess 'danger' from other people and said that putting us in one room accommodation would pose risks to them.  Depression/anxiety are things you can put forward too.  This evidence was submitted to a medical panel and it was decided that temporary accommodation had to be self contained and have no steps.  While this process was going on I was also diagnosed with ASD and other things.  I don't know what professional support you currently have, but contact all the professionals you have received diagnoses from, and ask them for further letters explaining how the situation is affecting you.  You can also try asking Charities that deal with your conditions for advice.  Some will help, some won't (everyone is short of funds) but you should get some pointers/useful advice.

How old are you?  There is an automatic age limit on people being forced to live in shared accommodation (used to be for people under 35).  So if over this age limit you could be allowed to apply for one bedroom  private rented places. But, I am afraid, it does have to be said that with more tenants than properties, it is now very difficult for anyone on benefits to find private rented accommodation (LL's prefer working people although they can find themselves unable to pay rent too).

It sounds like you need some support with this, there is usually a homeless charity helping people in any area.  Overworked, but they can give advice and support.  I'm afraid Housing departments themselves can not be relied upon to give you the best advice, they are overwhelmed and will try to stop you being added to the housing needs register so I tended to check anything Housing said about whether you would receive assistance from them with a housing charity or on here.  Its called Gatekeeping.  Supposedly they aren't supposed to do it, but they do. I was told a number of things that implied I wouldn't be helped by the council, all completely untrue.

But as suggested here, your first step is to ascertain if the LL's son is doing the right things, and make sure he does.  Again, don't voluntarily leave before you have a housing possession order and bailiffs warrant for eviction if you are having problems finding alternative private rented accommodation.  Give yourself the best possible chance to have the council assist you if you can't.

It can be done, it was stressful and unpleasant but I have been in permanent social housing now for over 5 years.  It was worth it, even if it wasn't an easy process.

I still thank the people on here that kept me going when I was going off my head with stress lolol.

Unfortunately, I am not at my best at the moment so hope the advice I have given is understandable.  Ask if you have any additional questions.

To be honest, some of the advice on not getting a LL's back up by refusing to move out voluntarily is not taking note of the situation the OP is in.  Rental properties are hard to find for everyone, but particularly for people who are vulnerable and on benefits.  Whether you can get a reference or not, favourable or not, is not overly relevant when you can't find a private rental to move to because you aren't working etc.  I did everything, never stopped searching for a private rental place..,  didn't find a thing.  Its much worse now.