Renting

[Corianderismynemesis]

Hi all,

We need to move out of our rented home in around 6/7 weeks, LL wants the house back. We are lucky for renters as we have been here three years. But now we need to find somewhere new and there seems to be a lack of decent houses in our area. No deposit so we can’t buy. I’m feeling very disheartened and stuck. We have three kids who are very happy in the local school and that’s the sole reason we aren’t able to look further afield to somewhere more affordable. The house prices/rents in the area are really getting me down and it’s worrying me. Would any landlords consider v long term tenants ie three years plus contracts? How far would you travel for the school run? Is it s big risk moving the kids primary school elsewhere when they’re so happy? I’d be prepared to do it but my oh wants to stay in this area but he doesn’t seem to realised we are priced out for what we want (3 bed house with garden). I just want to put down real roots for the sake of our kids and be able to make somewhere our own. We do ok for money so could pay more at a push. I grew up somewhere much more affordable and it astounds me that we earn decent money yet are in this position. A mortgage would be so much cheaper!Advice/support/ideas much appreciated!

 

[SunshineDreamer]

My family has a couple of rental properties, and we do have long term contracts. I think one of ours is contracted for 5 years. I think it depends on the landlord/tenant and prior experiences with previous tenants.
As for schools, my children’s is about 3 miles from our house, by choice, as we knew we wanted them to go to that school. As for moving them, I think it depends completely on the child. Some cope with change so well, whereas others not so much, so I think you have to take that on your children’s temperaments.
I hope it goes well for you

 

[Rlaw1978]

Have you considered going to your local council and asking to be put on the housing list? You’d get priority because you have children and would be eligible due to landlord selling- if you do go make sure you take evidence of this with you, most councils ask for a section 21 filled in by the landlord.

 

[BettyCrocker]

With the school run I guess it’s how far you are prepared to travel and how practical that is for you as a family (I.e do you drive or do you use public transport/do you need to get them in so you can then go to work?) is personally probably travel 30minutes for the school run if I had to but for some that’s too far.

if you move your kids to a new school they would adapt, so I’d not worry massively about that at this stage really.

can you apply for a council/local authority house? So you could rent and then perhaps save up some money to put towards a deposit for a mortgage?


You need to sit down with your husband and properly discuss this with him - the burden of house hunting and the worry shouldn’t all fall on your shoulders. He needs to understand that living in the area isn’t an option anymore due to the cost of rents now and that moving elsewhere is the only option.

all the best x

 

[Begborrowsteal]

Apply for social housing. Especially as you could potentially end up homeless if you dont find somewhere by the time the notice is up.

I wouldnt want to move schools, that would be worsd case. We have a 25min walk to school. Id be ok with a short bus rides distance.

A landlord can do a 10yr contract, or a 6 month contract. It makes no difference when it comes to serving notice, legally they can still serve notice with 2 months. If theres a break clause, they can serve it anytime after that. We have been in our place for 5yrs and renew every year, with rent increase, and have a 6 month break clause. Our last renewal was a 2yr contract (only because i negotiated a rent freeze and they didnt want to rewrite the contract ) but we are still at their mercy after 6 months.

 

[Yayitsavaliable]

Have you considered going to your local council and asking to be put on the housing list? You’d get priority because you have children and would be eligible due to landlord selling- if you do go make sure you take evidence of this with you, most councils ask for a section 21 filled in by the landlord.

This isn’t always true , my mum was on the list when my sister and I were younger (Babies) and she didn’t get offered anything in 12 years. Luckily she met my step dad and they were able to buy a house together.

 

[Corianderismynemesis]

I actually suggested this to my husband and he thought it was ridiculous. To be honest his parents could afford to help us out by way of a family support type mortgage package as paying monthly rent/mortgage isn’t the problem, it’s the lump sum you need, but he won’t talk to them about that. I’m so so frustrated. We have rented for 7 years now and my optimism/positivity when rents keep increasing and in the area we are looking in we are now looking at 2k per month for a house with a garden. Obviously we could just get a flat, but it seems ridiculous when we can afford to pay the mortgage or a house in the same area!

 

[Rlaw1978]

This isn’t always true , my mum was on the list when my sister and I were younger (Babies) and she didn’t get offered anything in 12 years. Luckily she met my step dad and they were able to buy a house together.

I can only speak from my experience , which was the landlord was selling our house and we have 4 children. We were given priority banding and got offered something within 3 months.
Every area is different but it’s an avenue I’d recommend finding more about at least.

 

[Begborrowsteal]

I actually suggested this to my husband and he thought it was ridiculous. To be honest his parents could afford to help us out by way of a family support type mortgage package as paying monthly rent/mortgage isn’t the problem, it’s the lump sum you need, but he won’t talk to them about that. I’m so so frustrated. We have rented for 7 years now and my optimism/positivity when rents keep increasing and in the area we are looking in we are now looking at 2k per month for a house with a garden. Obviously we could just get a flat, but it seems ridiculous when we can afford to pay the mortgage or a house in the same area!

If you want to stay in the area, would it be much cheaper for the flat? So that you could save the extra?

My family could also help us, but have chosen not to. So be it. I dont mind renting, I just want fair rent and security! We pay high rents too, and want to move but stay in the area; we cant afford to. Even the flats now are too much. Its really disheartening when youre often paying more than a mortgage.

I can only speak from my experience , which was the landlord was selling our house and we have 4 children. We were given priority banding and got offered something within 3 months.
Every area is different but it’s an avenue I’d recommend finding more about at least.

Agreed. Waiting lists are different all over. But if youre eligible to join the list, join.

 

[Countrybumpkingirl]

Firstly to the OP your landlord must give you 2 months notice! And usually this must be2 months prior to the rent date. So if your term is end of the month and they gave you notice on 1st, they have to give you 2 months from the rent date. Any less and they are breaking the contract in place and the law. Please double check and if you have any queries, inbox me.

 

[Definitelyme]

Speaking as a landlord (although not in England where prices are crazy and landlords seem like maniacs) a long term tenant is ideal. I’ve had someone in one of my houses for over 10 years, and it is really the ideal situation. So definitely let landlords know you are looking for a long term stay

 

[Corianderismynemesis]

Yes the

Firstly to the OP your landlord must give you 2 months notice! And usually this must be2 months prior to the rent date. So if your term is end of the month and they gave you notice on 1st, they have to give you 2 months from the rent date. Any less and they are breaking the contract in place and the law. Please double check and if you have any queries, inbox me.

yes they did give us notice correctly. We don’t need to move until the start of November thank goodness. Isn’t it crazy that someone who is in the over 50% tax bracket cannot be given home security?! This country needs to change the housing situation it’s ridiculous. Unless something drastic happens we will sadly be paying v high rents for years to come. We may just need to bit the bullet and pay a lot more than we are doing now which we could technically afford to but then we will never be able to save! Flats aren’t even that much cheaper. By a couple of hundred maybe but nothing that will help save 40 grand within a few years so why not just pay for what we would be happy in and get a long contract? My husband still hopes we can save but I’m over it!

 

[JD-Morgan]

I can only speak from my experience , which was the landlord was selling our house and we have 4 children. We were given priority banding and got offered something within 3 months.
Every area is different but it’s an avenue I’d recommend finding more about at least.

I was in this situation in 2018, private let and after 6 years we were given notice we had to leave due to the landlord selling the property.

We went to our local council and were priority banding and were offered a house within 4 months, stayed with family until we got the house.

Hi all,

We need to move out of our rented home in around 6/7 weeks, LL wants the house back. We are lucky for renters as we have been here three years. But now we need to find somewhere new and there seems to be a lack of decent houses in our area. No deposit so we can’t buy. I’m feeling very disheartened and stuck. We have three kids who are very happy in the local school and that’s the sole reason we aren’t able to look further afield to somewhere more affordable. The house prices/rents in the area are really getting me down and it’s worrying me. Would any landlords consider v long term tenants ie three years plus contracts? How far would you travel for the school run? Is it s big risk moving the kids primary school elsewhere when they’re so happy? I’d be prepared to do it but my oh wants to stay in this area but he doesn’t seem to realised we are priced out for what we want (3 bed house with garden). I just want to put down real roots for the sake of our kids and be able to make somewhere our own. We do ok for money so could pay more at a push. I grew up somewhere much more affordable and it astounds me that we earn decent money yet are in this position. A mortgage would be so much cheaper!Advice/support/ideas much appreciated!

Our landlord offered us first refusal of buying the flat and no deposit was required due to how much rent we'd paid over 6 years

Have you thought about asking your landlord about this?

 

[Bitofthebubbly]

I would definitely apply for social housing. You may not get anything right away since lists are long in many areas but there’s always a small chance of something coming up. Right place right time and all that.

I can sympathise with not wanting to move your kids schools as i’d feel the same. I am not familiar with the rules, but even if you moved further away you could still send your kids to the school they’re already at couldn’t you? Obviously within reason but it’s not like you’d be moving to the other end of the country. It just depends on whether you are ok with the longer journey in the mornings.

It’s tough renting at times. Our tenancy is pretty secure, we’ve been at our place for five years so far with no’s signs of being asked to leave, but you just never know what your landlords plans are for the future.

 

[Drea1984]

What area are you in roughly? Then we can advise re councils more accurately. (I work for a local authority)

 

[Corianderismynemesis]

I feel a bit guilty for even thinking of applying. I mean we can afford flats in the local area just not what we would really want/want to buy in future which I doubt would be available by social housing anyway? Seems funny to apply when we could afford ‘suitable’ accommodation technically but we want a garden...

 

[chocolate choux]

Honestly, applying for social housing would be a waste of time. The system is completely overwhelmed, there are a lack of properties and long waiting lists for those who are homeless and need them. Your income would be a major factor and not obtaining another place to rent when there are (practical but not perfect) options may be construed as ‘making yourself homeless’ (yes, that term is used). The system doesn’t even work for people who are penniless and homeless with no other options. By all means apply, maybe your local council are different but that’s what I know about the current state of the system

It’s a crap situation but the housing market will crash at some point. The only advice I can give is to sit tight until then and open a LISA if you haven’t already (sorry no advice about the more pressing renting situation though!)

 

[Corianderismynemesis]

I so appreciate your advice. Weirdly hoping for a market crash and already have a LISA open. Will have to just keep my eyes on the rental market in the mean time!

 

[JD-Morgan]

Honestly, applying for social housing would be a waste of time. The system is completely overwhelmed, there are a lack of properties and long waiting lists for those who are homeless and need them. Your income would be a major factor and not obtaining another place to rent when there are (practical but not perfect) options may be construed as ‘making yourself homeless’ (yes, that term is used). The system doesn’t even work for people who are penniless and homeless with no other options. By all means apply, maybe your local council are different but that’s what I know about the current state of the system

It’s a crap situation but the housing market will crash at some point. The only advice I can give is to sit tight until then and open a LISA if you haven’t already (sorry no advice about the more pressing renting situation though!)

Councils don’t look at your income. Mine didn’t anyway. Didn’t even ask if me and my partner worked, just told us what date the rent was due each month.

She is not making herself homeless, her landlord is evicting her and they have to provide her with a document which the council can take and it adds to the application.

I guess it depends on the area but I was in the exact same situation and only waited 4 months and was offered a 2 bed semi detached house. We were in a priority category for being made homeless, living in an overcrowded house and we even got more points somehow for requesting a certain area.

 

[chocolate choux]

Councils don’t look at your income. Mine didn’t anyway. Didn’t even ask if me and my partner worked, just told us what date the rent was due each month.

She is not making herself homeless, her landlord is evicting her and they have to provide her with a document which the council can take and it adds to the application.

I guess it depends on the area but I was in the exact same situation and only waited 4 months and was offered a 2 bed semi detached house. We were in a priority category for being made homeless, living in an overcrowded house and we even got more points somehow for requesting a certain area.

Citizens Advice say you probably have to be on a low income, of course every council is different and as I said the poster should apply if she wants to by all means

I didn’t say she was making herself homeless but that not securing rented accommodation when she has the ability to could be interpreted that way. I know someone who lost her job and had to go on HB which only covered half her rent. She was told that if she didn’t stay where she was, run up rent arrears and get evicted she would not be eligible for help as she would’ve ‘made herself homeless’. I wouldn’t consider taking the responsible decision to leave a place to avoid debt and eviction to be making yourself homeless but there you go

I so appreciate your advice. Weirdly hoping for a market crash and already have a LISA open. Will have to just keep my eyes on the rental market in the mean time!

I hope you manage to sort something out soon. Also just remembered seeing something about this - not sure if LL can legally evict you at this time?

Jenrick extends ban on evictions and notice periods

The ban on evictions extended for another 4 weeks and new 6 month notice periods to be in place until at least 31 March 2021.

www.gov.uk