What does it mean to be Homeless

In recent months I have seen a huge increase in the number of Private renting tenants coming to me with S21 in hand claiming they will be homeless

Obviously my first job is to ensure the S21 is valid and all the admin is in place.

But this is the easy part.

 

My next challenge is to try and explain to a full-time employed couple, why the local council do not “HAVE TO” house them just because their current landlord has served them with notice.

My First question…..If you are currently privately renting, why don’t you just look for another private rented property?

The surprise answer “we cant afford Private rented”

I reply .... But you can afford the property you are currently in?

“Yes, but we want a council house as the rent cheaper and we are entitled to one"

                            "oh Joy"

I try to explain that the local council has a set of criteria for people to be eligible to be placed on the waiting list for a council property, I also explain our local figures

The council only has 10,200 properties in their housing stock 150 of those are private rented properties Let through the Help-to-rent scheme. There are currently 4,600 people on the active waiting list and a further 4500 on a deferred list waiting for their chance to get on the active list

I explain that this couples' chance of getting a council house are very slim with approx. a 7 year wait.

Then comes the mantra  “But we will be homeless!!”

 I then explain their legal right of remaining in the property until a warrant is finally obtained….. Nope they don’t want to hear this

So I then go through the 5 legal tests for homelessness

• Eligibility
• Definition of Homeless
• Priority Need
• Intentionality
• Local connection

Most people at this point fall down on Priority Need and/or local connection, I then throw in that if the council do have a duty to house you under Homeless Legislation, they can discharge their duty ANYWHERE in the UK…. So it is possible you maybe housed in Devon or Leeds or maybe even Central London, if there is not a suitable property locally for you

They then sit and pout because  they want to live in this area and they expect me to magic  the Perfect Property out of my desk drawer.

I have to tell them, that I am sorry but your best option is Private rented, nothing stopping you asking a new landlord for a 12, 24 or 36 month AST if that would give them peace of mind

It is at this point people usually leave my office telling me how unhelpful I am and that I only want to help people who shouldn’t even be in this Country and that they have worked all their lives and the Council "owe" them a house

But I just smile and say  “I’m sorry I cant help, but Private Renting isn’t that bad… after all you are doing it already”