Could all go wrong..

[vimto1029]

Well..having thought things were going relatively well we could now be back at square one. Our tenancy is up for renewal next month and as we hadn't heard anything my other half phoned the estate agent this morning..only to be told that despite the landlady wanting to rent long term that after only 6 months she might try and sell it! They know our situation and if she decides to sell it will leave us totally ruined. We'd have no deposit, no months rent upfront to offer, no money for credit checks or anything! Feel totally fed up about it all. I've had a quick ganders on Gumtree but there's nothing on there either [:(]
Really don't know what to do!!

[plasticdaft]

Not great at all but you can't really do anything until you know for sure.

Paul

[Niobe]

Not good Vimto but I think you are going to have to wait and find out or spend the time looking for something else - ring round one or two private agents or try a housing association in the meantime.

Hope it doesn't come to that.

[vimto1029]

Anyone got a tent I can borrow?!

[oscar]

Hi Vimto1029

I really feel for you with this and hope sincerely that this is all a mistake. I hope you take some peace of mind from the fact that it is very hard to sell houses these days and it is also a very bad time of year for a sale to proceed, so hopefully all of this will be in your favour. In addition, even an agreed house sale can take some time to go through, especially at times like Xmas…

The main thing I am thinking here is you said the agent said the landlord MIGHT try and sell it. Get the agent to confirm exactly what the position is before you do anything, incase you are worrying unecessarily. The agent's not daft and will already know what I have said above, as will the landlady but she may have just made a flippant comment to an inexperienced administrator at the letting agents, you just don't know until you check.

The landlady needs to realise that she may loose good tenants if she messes them around, try and be nice but firm with the agent and get names of who you speak to etc.and write everything down.

If a sale is likely, I'm thinking, because you have been with this estate agent for a while get them to see what other properties they could rent you, because they may not do another credit check if you have been good paying tenants and may just rely on their experience with you to date (so don’t mention the IVA to them yet you may not have to?). I'd do this as a first option I think but also get looking round, look in the papers for private rented as these people may be less likely to do a credit check. The adtrader paper online may have something in. Speak to /get your IP on side and consider a payment break to cover any deposit/moving costs if it comes to that but I hope for you that it doesn't. Have a plan ready with your IP just incase you need to use it.

Sounds crazy, but before we moved to where we live now (and it is rented via an agent) we actually thought we would have to live in our largest tent close to my husband's place of work, because we have Labradors (I just couldn’t manage without them they calm me down and help me feel better when I’m poorly) making it more awkward, and could not see any way forward, with no available money and no relatives to fall back on (did have relatives but would never have worried them with our debt problems - they have no money anyway and don't believe in credit!)

As suggested, I’d also contact your housing association or even local council and put in an application so you have another backup plan, although I realise that this is probably not want you want to do and the whole thing is probably making you feel quite sick because I’d feel sick.

Do you have anyone you could move in with in the short term if it came to it even Vimto?

Do you have anyone who would offer to be a guarantor for you even which might sway a decision should you have to move.

Just a few thoughts really I’m sorry I want to help you more.

Maybe once you get over the shock you can take a step back and look at all possibilities, writing things down options a plan of what to do or what you might do might be a starting point. Writing things down might also help to keep you sane through all of this!

You can get through it. Keep posting.

Oscar

[Niobe]

Good luck vimto.

Hope it all works out

[vimto1029]

Thanks all!

The annoying thing is that both the landlady and estate agent are aware of the IVA and how we wanted something long term..that's why we went for that house in the first place despite it not being what we would have liked. We'd even spoken about doing little things to the house over the next few years to make it feel more like home!
Luckily we had money from the house sale with my ex to cover credit check fees etc but don't have that now.

My mom was originally a guarantor for us but at the ripe old age of 61 I don't want to have to keep going back to them every time we need help..i'm sure they already think we're losers anyway..I must be such a disappointment I don't think I could stand disappointing them again [:(]

The whole thing is really worrying me. We're struggling enough as it is..I've this morning been told my child benefit has been temporarily stopped because my idiot of an ex has tried to claim it too so until thats sorted we're out of pocket! Today has not been a good day!
I'm seriously starting to think i'm jinxed..i've had nothing but troubles and stress for about 3 years now...please someone, give us a break!! [:(]

[Foggy]

Hi Vimto -- Oscar has some good advice there -- nothing is yet set in stone, and -- unless she puts the house on the market at a give away price ---- it might take 6 months plus to sell.

If you stick with the same agents, depending upon the wording of your parent's guarantee, they might still be guarantors of the next lease without having to sign anything.

[oscar]

hang in there Vimto it's got to get better
Oscar

[vimto1029]

Update..estate agent has had no luck getting hold of the landlady..[:(]
I don't have a good feeling about this...

[Niobe]

No news is good news Vimto!!

In the meantime, have you spoken to the estate agent about any other possible properties in your area?

[vimto1029]

Not yet Niobe..we've had a look but it's so hard to know what to do.
I've mentioned it to my parents and they've said they wouldnt be able to lend us a deposit or anything as their money is tied up and as we probably wouldnt get our deposit back straight away it leaves us stuck! Plus there's money for credit checks etc too!
I've tried local housing associations etc and they've nothing either!
Don't know what to do for the best at the moment!

[Niobe]

With your own estate agent then you possibly wouldn't have to do any credit checks.

I'd let sleeping dogs lie at the moment - it may not come to anything.

[vimto1029]

We already asked that question I'm afraid and was told a credit check would need to be done again but we could potentially 'negotiate' lol

I'm trying not to think about it or worry but this friday would be 4 weeks until the end of the tenancy! so we need to know before then!

[oscar]

Vimto I hope this all sorts itself out for you and soon.
(even though your tenancy officially ends 4 weeks on Sat am I not right in thinking that it would just automatically run on and that you still have to be given 2 months written notice to quit?
Maybe you could follow this up as a just in case. Your advice centre or somewhere like Shelter online have contacts that can be useful.

since writing the above I have read this:-

Assured shorthold tenancy
Landlords have a right to regain possession without giving any reasons at any time after the fixed term has come to an end, or at any time during a statutory periodic tenancy, as long as it is at least six months since the start of the original tenancy. Landlords must give the tenant at least two months’ notice that they want the property back. Tenants can leave at the end of the fixed term, without giving notice. Landlords can give notice during the fixed term but the tenancy cannot end before the fixed term is up. Notice must be in writing but you do not have to use a special form.


it comes from the London Borough of Hounslow Council website but I think will apply in general? Hope it may be of some help to you but hope you don't need it.
Oscar
Best wishes