URGENT HELP NEEDED re MARAS referencing, may be homeless in 7 weeks

[znowdonia]

Urgent urgent advice needed re maras reference application

Hi

 

I have been in my HOME for nearly 5 years now but the lettings agent made the lanlord re-refernce me. I am currently unemployed and in receipt of benefits so I knew I would not pass the referencing also because my income isnt 3x the rent and my partner no longer lives here, so I managed to get two of best friends to be Guarantors on the property. Their referencing has gone through but I still had to be referenced.

 

I was worried if the Landlord or Leting agent knew I was unemployed they would make me move out so I said I was self-employed (silly i know) but now they want my accountants details? They have served me a notice of possession until they get my accountants details and I get fully referenced. I thought the most important thing would be the gurantors passing the checks.

 

I dont know what to do now.

 

Please please give me some urgent advice as I could lose my home in 7 weeks time and be on the streets as hardly any private landlors accept HB and theres a massive council waiting list and I could end up in a hostel.

 

Your advice is much appreciated!!!

[Aviva]

I've asked for your query to be moved to the Residential Lettings board as it isn't really anything to do with Benefits. You will get more answers on whether you can be evicted or not on the other board.

[znowdonia]

Can you send me the link to that forum and I will move it myself? Thanks so much!

[MARTIN3030]

Done now.(only site team can move threads.)

[MrShed]

Its a duplicate of a thread already in this section.

[loan_ranger]

Hi znowdonia, seeing as you do not have secure accommodation (since you received a section 21 notice of repossession) you should immediately apply to your council as a homeless person because in the eyes of the law someone who is threatened with homelessness is treated as being homeless. I'm afraid that temporary hostel accommodation is what you'll get to begin with, however they will be obliged to find you a secure tenancy within 2 years of your application. Furthermore, they must pay for storage of any furniture and goods which you cant take with you immediately, and, the application is also a gateway to receiving other assistance e.g. a bond to cover a deposit and a loan to help with the first rent. Make your application in writing and if you can get to the council offices with it, make them photocopy the application and give you a copy with their official stamp and date-stamp on it for your own proof. I always do this because verbal dealings can be denied by the council when they fail to carry out their "main homelessness" duties.

 

Here's an example application:

 

Homelessness Application Letter

Date: (fill in as required)

Applicant’s name: (fill in as required)

Contact Address: (fill in as required)

 

Telephone: (fill in as required)

Mobile: (fill in as required)

To: Homelessness Section,

Housing Options Team

Address: (Your own Borough Council)

Council Offices

(fill in as required) Road

town, town, county, postcode.

 

Dear Sir or Madam,

 

I wish to apply as homeless under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002.

I provide some basic details below, but would like an appointment to see a homelessness officer urgently.

 

(add your details, e.g. S.21 notice and when received, on benefits and LL says NO WAY etc.)

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

The following link will give you advice and access to the relevant (aforementioned) Laws/Acts and also to the "Homelessness Code of Guidelines for Local Authorities" which I found invaluably helpful because my council spouted misleading and inaccurate misinformation in order to discourage me from obtaining their help.

http://www.yjb.gov.uk/en-gb/practitioners/Accommodation/LegislationandResponsibilities/HousingAct1996PartVIandVII/

 

Another good source of advice and help is: http://www.shelter.org.uk/

 

With regards to you either lying or making misleading claims when obtaining a tenancy, I'm afraid that this is grounds for eviction whereby a council could consider you as having become "intentionally homeless" thereby voiding their homelessness duty, however seeing as you've not been granted a new tenancy through this, I think you are probably in the clear for now. However it may be wiser not to tell the council this bit,

I was worried if the Landlord or Leting agent knew I was unemployed they would make me move out so I said I was self-employed (silly i know) but now they want my accountants details? They have served me a notice of possession until they get my accountants details and I get fully referenced. I thought the most important thing would be the gurantors passing the checks.

 

I dont know what to do now.

Good reading and good luck, best regards,

Paul.

[znowdonia]

im hoping it wont come to that but thanks for the advice...........