Working 60 hours/week

DaffyDuck316

Hi,

I am currently working 60 hours/week to cover rent/bills/expenses.

I have just been given a Section 21 and I want to find a home that is suitable for my cat. It looks like I will now need to pay even more rent if I incorporate my cat.

I guess in truth, I could do some kind of house share, but I have had bad experience of that in the past.

I think I am asking, is it worth declaring myself homeless? I'm not in a dire situation, but I don't know what to do going forward, if there may be some form of help available that I am unaware of.

Thanks.

kimwp

Are you saying that you can't afford the rent on a place you could keep your cat, but you could afford to rent without your cat?

Flugelhorn

Not sure that there is much immediate help unless you are vulnerable and I doubt the cat would get considered 

DE_612183

How old are you?

60 hours a week @ minimum wages should see you take home £2500

FlorayG

You can't 'declare yourself homeless' as such - you have to actually BE homeless. While you have a roof over your head you are not homeless. Please be aware that the S21 doesn't mean you have to leave on the date stated - it's just an indication that the landlord may instigate proceedings to evict you if you haven't left by that date. That's quite normal for a person to not move out, because if you move out voluntarily then the council will consider you voluntarily homeless and will give you absolutely no help at all. Have you tried a negotiation with the LL? Did the LL give you a reason for the S21 ( they don't have to, but if they did it might be a starting point for you to negotiate)

DaffyDuck316

Well sadly the LL passed away, and after some time, the house has gone up on the market. I did try to buy the place but could not drum up enough of a minimum deposit on my own, and now an offer has been accepted.

I think probably what I will do is move to a more expensive rental for all the time I have the cat and then find someplace smaller.

I just find it hard working so many hours, and I'm in my 40's now, I just thought I'd ask a question on here but it sounds like I'll have to continue as I am for now.

FlorayG

DaffyDuck316 said:

Well sadly the LL passed away, and after some time, the house has gone up on the market. I did try to buy the place but could not drum up enough of a minimum deposit on my own, and now an offer has been accepted.

They accepted an offer on the house with you living in it? Does the prospective buyer know that 'vacant possession' may take as long as 12 months ( especially if the S21 wasn't issued with all the correct paperwork in place, which they often aren't). Please look into your legal rights here, as it seems your new LL ( the inheritor) doesn't understand that you don't have to leave when the S21 expires. You have all the cards and the LL may be willing to offer you a substantial cash incentive to move out on time, which will help you massively in getting another rental

DaffyDuck316

Ok thanks, I hope I can work something out from this information. If anyone knows anything more, I'd love to hear about it. Thanks.

FlorayG

What more do you need to know? Keep paying the rent on time and in full is important even after the S21 expires. The next move is down to the LL.
Things for you to check - do you have a current valid gas safety certificate? If not the S21 is not valid
Do you have a current electrical safety certificate ? If not the S21 is not valid
Have you ever been issued the How To Rent book on paper or by email? If not the S21 is not valid
Is the deposit you paid with a recognised deposit protection service or has the LL insured the deposit? If not the S21 is not valid
If you don't have any one of the above, say nothing to the LL, let them find out because then they have to put that right and then issue the S21 again and start the clock again. I'm betting that if the real LL has died the inheritors won't know to have kept up with those things

Ordinary_Yet_Unique

If you were nearly able to buy the house yourself is it possible there could be other properties you could afford to buy in the area? I was thinking of something like a garden flat or a shared ownership property.
If you are single and earning reasonably good money there must be options you could investigate.
Also I agree with the suggestion you need to engage with the new landlord(s). They may well be unaware of the processes involved in the section21 application.
If you are working 60 hours a week and earning over £2000 a month it is unlikely you will qualify for any benefits.
I would also advise not to make yourself intentionally homeless as that could lead to horrible consequences.

DaffyDuck316

Thanks for the advice,

I did get a budget from a mortgage broker, but I couldn't find anywhere pet-friendly at this moment in time. Well there was a shared ownership property that was ideal but not available until end of October.

I don't think I have the gumption to stay beyond my Section 21. I appreciate what people are telling me. I did view a property to rent that is pet-friendly so I'm looking to put down a holding deposit today or tomorrow morning.

As I was writing this, I just got a phone call. The guy I care for as a job will not be coming out of hospital. Now I really don't know what I am doing, but I'll just pause from this for now and check on my colleagues etc