Homelessness- who can help??

neas

Get him into a flat share, share with 3 others in a 'professional' house :P,What I did.. what every 'youngster' has do these days.

lesley1960

I think a lot of posters have missed the point here , must be so easy to live in their world.

Oldernotwiser

lesley1960 wrote: »

I think a lot of posters have missed the point here , must be so easy to live in their world.

Who are you referring to?

glossgal

Doubt any of us have it easy. I feel for this guy if he has been bereaved or similar but there's usually a common sense chain of events behind the 'unfairness' when you read between the lines-in this case he has been given two months notice and failed to meet the rent. The council would have almost certainly found him intentionally homeless if he did report to them for an official assessment. There is some great advice already given so probably better to take it instead of turning to the all too easy martyrdom routine

blue_monkey_2

Hi, would like to offer my experience.

In November we was told out long term let was being sold and was asked to leave - by my mother!! We live in her house and she lives with her BF.

We have 2 children and I went to the council having been on the list for 5 years, we have exhausted all options of finding somewhere else to live. I've trawled through a LOT of information since November!!

First off, the LL CANNOT sell the house without declaring they have a tenant in te house - if he completes with your friend in the house and without evicting them properly the LL can get fined, likewise if he tried to force your friend onto the streets. Your friend has to be served the correct notice, that would be a section 21 (the type depends on what tenancy agreement he has) - HOWEVER, your friend owes rent so they can file a section 8 notice as well which would also mean the LL can ask the courts for the rent to be paid back. He needs to be very careful with this, if he should be eligable to be housed by the council then the council will say that he made himself homless and he is not entitled to anything. There is a very log thread on MSE about a lady was evicted through this reason as she had the same problems your friend had with HB and, despite her having a girl and boy over 11, she was refused housing as she had made herself homeless. And she has tried every way possible to overturn this descision tono avail. If he leaves before any court tells him to then he has made himself homeless. This is the thing - he should not just leave as then he has made himself homless too and will not be entitled to anything. He should only leave when a court paper tells him he has to or when the bailiff is knocking on his door. This is impotant ad although harsh, it is the way the council will tell you it has to be done.

Because he is out of work it is possible that the council may find him somewhere - this could be a homeless hostel - but only if he has not been evicted through rent arrears - it depends if he is classed as vunerable or not. Have you found a YMCA, they might be of some help.

May I suggest that he sees if he can get a job temping until after Easter to make some money ASAP. Yes the work is generally rubbish factory work, but we have all had to do it at some time or another, money is money at the end of the day - but they can generally have you in work a few days later. This way he can either get the money to pay his rent up to date, or get some money behind him for a deposit. A bar job is also another option - anything that pays weekly.

To give you an idea of time, we was asked to leave in November 07, section 21 served on 1st December, our court date for the eviction hearing is 2nd April and we have asked for the maximum amount of time which is 56 days - so despite asking us to leave in early November, by law it means we may not have to be out until Mid June!! Only then will we get housed (and we hav a child who has mental health/behaviour problems) and it could well be in a hostel if there is no housing available - and it will be a couple of days before the eviction date is due. In this time he must continue to pay his rent and he should really think about seeing if he can find something that pays weekly to catch up with the rent to avoid being evicted for rent arrears a the council will not want to know.

If he has been to the council they should have already informed him of all of this.

HTH.

blue_monkey_2

lesley1960 wrote: »

I think a lot of posters have missed the point here , must be so easy to live in their world.

I can understand what you re getting at but the people are trying to offer advice. The thing is that the chap has not paid his rent (whatever the reason) and he ha no court order to leave. House sharing is a viable option, the council should be able to get him on a depsoit scheme if he asks so they will 'lend' him the deposit/bond and then once the tenancy ends he just gives it back. He needs to check on this option also.

I understand how things are but it is rare they will help someone who just walks out of a house wen he has been told to leave and not by a court. I have also suggested temping as tose jobs are usually available short notice, enough time to get a bit of money together. If he has not paid his rent, whether he is eligable or not then he will NOT get housed by the council. This is a VERY long thread but worthy of reading. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=553259&highlight=eviction

The lady concerned, and her children, are currently sleeping in one room of a friends house as the council refused to help them further.

mademoiselle_2

Things that other people have done, in same circumstances:

• Sleep in the car (assuming he has one). Wash and shower at council facilities.
• Caravan sites. Are you near the coast or any scenic place? Caravans are a cheap rental.
• Park homes, ditto.
• Do hotel work where there is live-in accommodation available (usually in rural hard-to-get-to areas; but sometimes still available in the city) They are used to people only staying a few weeks and moving on.
• buy a copy of The Lady (I know, I know). They advertise lots of live-in jobs. Mostly for nannies, but sometimes for gardeners, estate workers, handymen, security people and chauffeur/drivers.
• Night watchman work gets you off the street at night and gives you a warm place to stay. Ditto night porter work.