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So worried, please help!
Free as a bird
Posts: 1,040
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I live in a council flat and yesterday recieved a letter giving me notice to quit.
My husband and I have lived in our current flat since Feb 2012and before that we were living in another council flat but got moved here because of our violent ex neighbour.
I can only think that the council think that I am subletting(I'm not), it's just me and my husband.
They have come to the property three times before whilst carrying out checks on the estate, but I haven't been here as was at work, and I was meant to have a appointment at the office last week but couldn't go as I had someone come round to fix the front door, and I left them a message saying could I make another time, and they called me the day after the appointment saying that is fine to rearrange, then I get the letter.
What can I do, am worried sick, I have a stress releated illness and I really don't want to end up ill.
My husband is going to the office today to show documents to prove that both him and me live here, and he says not to worry but I am so scared.
My husband and I have lived in our current flat since Feb 2012and before that we were living in another council flat but got moved here because of our violent ex neighbour.
I can only think that the council think that I am subletting(I'm not), it's just me and my husband.
They have come to the property three times before whilst carrying out checks on the estate, but I haven't been here as was at work, and I was meant to have a appointment at the office last week but couldn't go as I had someone come round to fix the front door, and I left them a message saying could I make another time, and they called me the day after the appointment saying that is fine to rearrange, then I get the letter.
What can I do, am worried sick, I have a stress releated illness and I really don't want to end up ill.
My husband is going to the office today to show documents to prove that both him and me live here, and he says not to worry but I am so scared.
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i`ve had notice to quit many times, go and see them and sort it out, they`ll usually come to some sort of arrangement.
what does the notice say is the reason?
Why would you surmise that ?
Anyway, hope you get it sorted
Not in rent arrears, all up to date, same as council tax.
I used to claim housing benefit, and I have been overpaid because of various things, which I am trying to sort out now, but they seem to just be ignoring my letters.
My husband has the notice but I think the jist of it wass that they think I am subletting.
My husband is not on the tenancy as I got the flat when we weren't married, and he went to the council with his student letter to try and get a reduction of the council tax, so maybe it has stemmed from that, though we are both on the council tax.
Hi, when we moved in last year there was a guy that came round and checked the boiler etc, so it's not that.
When they came round the estate, I was here only once. and the man was banging on the door, so because it was only me didn't want to answer, so am sure this was them, though they didn't leave a note.
Even worried about giving them a call, though my husband says I should.
Not sure what you mean about giving them a call, I thought your husband was going directly to the council office?
i know councils vary in their methods but when i repeatedly missed boiler appointments they just got an injunction and came in and changed the locks [imagine my shock, i was half dressed, in my bed, wearing headphones] no notice to quit. which is the cheaper option? [for curiosity]
op just ring them, surely it`s better to know than to screw yourself up imagining?
He is after he finishes college, I start work at 11 so can't go myself. I just called to speak to the lady who signed the notice and she is not there, but they said she will call me.
Wanted to speak to her to just put my mind at rest, and know the reason for the notice.
I feel you and your husband should arrange an appointment for a representative of the council/housing association to call at your home. telephone them and say you have received this eviction notice/letter and you want to discuss your options and to find out their reasons for sending the letter.
I would try to avoid discussing the situation over the phone. Ask for a visit and then discuss with the agent the following:
You can think of no reason why you should be evicted.
That you are paid upto date with the rent, and you are perfevtly happy for them to inspect, do gas-safety checks etc at an agreed time but you both work and it isn't convenient for them to just call 'on spec' to inspect.
What ever the reasons for the eviction notice: remember you have rights you have not contriviened the agreement (as far as you know) and it is up to them to prove you can be 'LEGALLY' evicted. they can't just kick you out. even if it goes past the date on the notice. they will have to take you to court to remove you from your home.
Even if you have broken their rules, they will have to prove this, and go through the proper procedures to get you out. so don't just give up and move. (remember tennants have rights)
when you discuss these issues (STAY CALM) I know how hard this can be but if you show them that you are angry/weak or easy to push out, they'll have another tennent ready to move in before you have packed. so be confident.
If you feel unsure contact the citizens rights people they can help too.
I hope you and your husband get this sorted .(he should help with this it's his home too) Ps let us know WHEN YOU HAVE. All the best Voicy
Have given him some documents to prove I live here, the problem now is maybe they will think that I have just given them to him, and I still live elsewhere, I am a born worrier.
Maybe if I put my husband on the tenancy that will help?
Thank you, you have made me feel better(you all have), I feel like crying
Hi, my husband has the notice but tonight will put what is on the notice.
could you ring and ask him? might put your mind at rest for the meanwhile if you know which conditions, or you might be able to work it out without ringing them, as your fella`s going in later.
plus we`re all nosey.
Husband then applies for council tax benefit and council thinks someone else other than the person who is on the books as the tenant is living there. Council then wants "lodger" out and may come after the OP for sub-letting too
OP - did you ever tell the council that your personal circumstances had changed?
Ok you will have to ignore me cos I don't know how to make the bit in bold that everyone else can but "plus we are all nosey". Oy speak for yourself missy lol. :D:D
get the tennancy agreement changed to include your husband when you have got this sorted out. if you can't do it now. You should be entitled to have a representative present in your interview, nominate your husband, that will get round the problem of him not being on the lease/rental agreement for now. I or my wife ALWAYS attend interviews (housing and benefits etc) with our two younger sons, they nominate us as their representatives, ther is really nothing the interviewer can do to stop this.
Thats all very good and well, however.....the OPs husband is going to the council office today, alone, to speak to them about the letter.
Officially it is none of his business, as he is not the tenant
just me then:o
to bold: blue up the words with your well behaved mouse and click the "B" on the tool bar at the top of the reply box.
Oh Annette I am so glad you are here today you have made me howl with laughter all morning. :D:D Nah I am a nosey cow too wish we had an update.
How do you know they came three times previously if you weren't there? That should have told you something at least. Did they leave a card to say they had called at your flat? Missing an appointment with the council is never a good idea and having someone fix your front door is something they should have already known about, seeing as your flat is owned by the council.
Sorry Free, I don't think we are getting the whole story here, something doesn't ring true to me. There is more to this than you are letting on.
Whereas you are a born worrier, I believe very few of the tales of woe posted on here, sorry but that's just me. I hope I'm wrong in this case.
Did you inform them your husband had moved in? Again not so sure you can just move him in because you're married, I would guess they would need to be correctly informed so that all checks can be made to ensure your housing benefit is not affected by being married and having someone living with you.
However its no good us all throwing out guesses, you need to call and/or visit in person. Good luck and hope it all gets sorted.
We are council tenants and the ex council house next door was up for sale, when the previous owners couldn't keep up with the mortgage. There was a notice slapped on their front door, their sheds were locked and bolted, everything.
A couple of weeks later, we received a scary letter saying unless we tidied our top garden, we might lose our house. Now, at this time my dad was dying. He lived 150 miles away so we had dropped everything, and been travelling back and forth to see him. We had emptied out a shed to let one of my sons use for his lego collection (yes, he has that much!) and then not got everything put into the outhouse, as that was when dad was rushed into hospital. It was a gruelling few weeks, driving up and down the motorway every few days, inbetween raising five kids and so my top garden looked a bit messy.
When the inspector woman came round - we really thought we were losing our home - it turned out when we told her the situation, she was mortified. Turned out, the evicted home owners next door had decided to blame their inability to sell the house on our mess. They weren't even tenants, but had the power to complain enough to make us fear we were about to be homeless.
Another neighbour had told me these ex home 'owners' had applied to go back on the council list. I told the woman that and she took a note of their names. Turned out she was also in charge of allocating housing, and she was making sure they got blacklisted for their 'malicious' complaint. I said "Does that mean any random person, who isn;t even a tenant, could pass on the bus, see something left in your garden, and ring up and the tenant gets this same threatening letter?" She said - essentially, yes. But she couldn't remember a single example of anyone ever being thrown out for a messy garden. It was just the standard letter everyone got (if some random busybody whines).
The reason they couldn't sell the house turned out to be his crap DIY which wrecked the interior. When the bank put it up for a ridiculous price, someone bought it within the week - despite our mess! And last I heard, these people were still privately renting at £600 a month - no council house for them. Their decision to spitefully try and get their ex neighbours evicted, ended in them losing thousands of pounds to some rackrenting landlord. Serves them right.
I t is a scary and horrible thing when a letter like that arrives but the woman told me it is a standard mail merge, and in reality, they never act on it anyway.
OP, just ring them and ask to speak to an organ grinder, not a monkey. Good luck. xxx