Sign new Tenancy Agreement or benefits will be suspended?

When my LL was selling, he did have a couple of LL's coming round, but all wanted to put the rent up. I would have accepted as I knew getting a new property would be difficult as a benefit tenant, but in the end had to be evicted and go into social housing as the LL's wanted more money than I could pay.

My LL did insist on signed tenancy agreements even though I was (initially) very unhappy with the lack of essential repairs and hoped to get another private rental (not possible as a benefit tenant in my area as it turns out). When I went to my council they told me if I refused to sign a TA and was evicted because of that, I'd be found voluntarily homeless. Which surprised me somewhat. So I had to sign. But, again, as it turns out, only for another couple of years cause then he decided to sell anyway. While it was terribly stressful, once I knew I had somewhere to go, I was SO relieved to be rid of the LL's lies, fun and games.

I've noticed that the property has gone for a higher fee since, but been empty twice (in the couple of years) for quite long periods (particularly given the demand in the area). So I doubt the new LL has gotten any gains. Charge higher rents, tenants expect more and the state of the place was dreadful, extension with no insulation or heating, wiring was awful, hob used to go out due to irregular gas supply (done by DIY idiot), boiler broke frequently with long repair times due to a lack of parts. Nothing I could enforce but very inconvenient. So Karma does visit occasionally.

Remember that their ultimate 'sanction' is eviction.., which they would be extremely silly to do but well, you can never rule it out. BUT even if they do try to evict you it will take at least three months to do so (depending on court waiting times it could be a lot longer) and will only improve your position on the housing list.

It might be they have repairs to do on the flat.., sometimes this can take a ridiculous amount of time. But phone the council and ask if you can bid on other properties having already been made an offer if you want a chance at an alternative property.

I wish the private rental sector was different but I am finding social housing is not overly regulated to make things workable for tenants, both seem to have huge loopholes it only takes a long expensive court case to resolve with no certainty of success. But at least social housing is yours for the long term once the probationary period is over.

Councils have some strange 'rules'. I was offered a place with no kitchen (literally an empty room with nothing in it). They could not put a kitchen in a void, so had to offer it to someone with no kitchen. BUT I then had to move in within two weeks (another rule) with no kitchen still.

I had put a kitchen into my previous property on the same estate so that kitchen had to be put into the new property. They gave the workmen half a day to do it. Unbelievable. I was very very pregnant at the time but I had to finish it off. The new property was a house and bigger so I just had to do it and tile the floor (they had taken the lino up, the floor was gritty black stuff the name of which escapes me to waterproof so not useable as it was). Most uncomfortable with a big bump in the way, spent several nights doing it with snow on the ground and no heating (I had another child with special needs I needed to spend the days with). No wonder I went into labour a month early! They did give me an extra week to actually move.

What happened to my old property now with no kitchen, I dread to think!

And that was twelve years ago, when there was more money around, although it was the start of things getting difficult.

In this place I have a fally apart kitchen with a sink falling through, council have an 18 month waiting list for replacements. But hopefully will have replaced it before then somehow. Council didn't do any kind of inspection before I had to move in so long list of repairs. Three inspections so far and still not one done. Although that's mostly down to a combination of things. I'm just going to get them done as and when I can. At least the place is more or less mine, unlike a private rental. The advantages are obvious but its not without its strains lol.