I'm mentally ill, living in a privately rented flat, on PIP and LWCRA. I am struggling & need help

StillIRise

I live in a privately rented flat.  There is a rent shortfall of £350 per month between my LHA and my actual rent.  This is not at all unusual in this part of the country and I know people who have a £500 a month shortfall.

I'm struggling, and not only financially. I've been here several years.  My mental health team is here.  I have a Carer who comes daily to my home. My current tenancy agreement ends this September.  The normal procedure is to simply renew it. But the rental agency has stated that they are not sure yet whether my flat will be available to be rented for the time being from September as they may want to do refurbishments.  They also said the rent is likely to go up by £400 a month.  They've said they can't confirm the precise rent increase or whether the flat will even be available until 6 weeks before my tenancy end date.

So I would be left with just 6 weeks to pack up my entire life, my furniture etc, find a new home in the middle of a housing crisis and pay all the costs involved with moving, new security deposit etc etc.  
I'm just not able to do it.  And I don't have family.

I have been able to really focus on my therapy sessions and other medical treatment while having what I thought was a secure roof over my head.  
Now suddenly no security at all. 

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @StillIRise

I'm so sorry to hear you are in that position. I echo Paries, about speaking to the council and your Mental Health Team. I would also reach out to Shelter for additional advice. They have information pages from Private Renting to Rent Increases by Private Landlords that may be useful to read. 

poppy123456

Your landlord can’t just evict you because that’s not how it works. As a tenant you have more in your favour than they do.

First your LL has to issue you with a S21 eviction notice. This will then you give 2 months. You do not have leave within that time if you have no where to live. Do not leave and make yourself homeless because this will not help your situation.

You will need to make sure the S21 is valid. You can check here https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/eviction/section_21_eviction/how_to_check_a_section_21_notice_is_valid

After the 2 months your landlord will be able to apply to the courts for eviction and this process can take several months. 

Do you have your name down on the social housing register? If not then I’d advise you to do that. Then if you receive the S21 you can then give it to them as proof. 

StillIRise

poppy123456 said:

Your landlord can’t just evict you because that’s not how it works. As a tenant you have more in your favour than they do.

First your LL has to issue you with a S21 eviction notice. This will then you give 2 months. You do not have leave within that time if you have no where to live. Do not leave and make yourself homeless because this will not help your situation.

You will need to make sure the S21 is valid. You can check here https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/eviction/section_21_eviction/how_to_check_a_section_21_notice_is_valid

After the 2 months your landlord will be able to apply to the courts for eviction and this process can take several months. 

Do you have your name down on the social housing register? If not then I’d advise you to do that. Then if you receive the S21 you can then give it to them as proof. 

I know that they can’t literally just come round and toss me out of the flat.  But the fact they have to issue a Section 21 to get me out doesn’t provide me with any security or peace of mind.  They can, and might, serve a Section 21 on me in a few weeks time, so that the end date of the Section 21 matches the last day of my tenancy agreement.  That way the two months notice for the Section 21 would expire on the day my tenancy agreement ends. I really don’t have long at all to try to find housing and I’ve no idea what to do. 

Remaining in the flat after the Section 21 quit date, and attending court and then waiting for bailiffs to physically remove me would just be the nail in the coffin for my mental health.

I honestly see housing as a basic human right.  I think it’s disgusting that people who are mentally or physically ill (or both) are having to fight to this extent simply to have a roof over their head. 

No I am not on the social housing register.  I have been trying for the past few weeks and their online registration process doesn't work. And they don't answer the phone either.  I will try emailing them.

StillIRise

paries1 said:

Having a secure home especially when I’m therapy is so important. 

I’ve been in your position and the Council didn’t help , I had to go back to a flatshare that’s really stressful . 

Have you approached the Council? I would speak to your MHT and see if they can offer any help at all. They might be able to give you a really good supporting letter . I think you mentioned you’re in the SE , it’s horrendous for social housing. 

Hi.  What did the council say to you?  Just that they couldn't help?  I've worked so hard the past three years, in therapy and in generally trying to stabilise my life and improve my health.  I'm now finding life not really worth living.  With severe mental health problems it's just too much to have to cope with potential homelessness, no idea of the outcome of my PIP review AND now this possible LCWRA re-assessment.

It took me so long to be able to get referred to the Mental Health Team and get a Carer from Adult Social Services.  If I am forced to move I will not be able to remain in this same area (due to soaring rent prices), so I would have to start all over again with trying to get referred to a Mental Health Team in the new area, having to start from scratch getting approved to have a Carer etc. 

I just can't cope anymore.

StillIRise

paries1 said:

Also I have the received the message on my Journal saying they are sending out the UC50, so stressed now about this . 

Nooooooo.
I am so sorry!

did you give them permission to contact your GP in the end!

StillIRise

paries1 said:

StillIRise said:

paries1 said:

Also I have the received the message on my Journal saying they are sending out the UC50, so stressed now about this . 

Nooooooo.
I am so sorry!

did you give them permission to contact your GP in the end!

I did give them consent , I’m so stressed about this. My GP is useless so I thought I’d still receive one but there was a tiny part of me that was hoping they’d leave me alone because if my meds etc 

I wonder if they actually spoke to your GP?

did your GP message on your journal tell you you need to consent/ reply by a certain date? Mine told me I had to contact them by 14th June, otherwise they’d just assess without GP consent.

it all seems so random. There’s a person who got the GP message more than two weeks ago and heard nothing since. Someone else got the GP message and got their LWCRA extended without even filling in a form.

it was last Thursday that I got the GP message. Not heard from them since aside from a message from them on my journal saying they’re not sending me a form.

I really don’t understand their logic? It’s not clear whether they really are contacting our doctors. 

StillIRise

paries1 said:

StillIRise said:

paries1 said:

StillIRise said:

paries1 said:

Also I have the received the message on my Journal saying they are sending out the UC50, so stressed now about this . 

Nooooooo.
I am so sorry!

did you give them permission to contact your GP in the end!

I did give them consent , I’m so stressed about this. My GP is useless so I thought I’d still receive one but there was a tiny part of me that was hoping they’d leave me alone because if my meds etc 

I wonder if they actually spoke to your GP?

did your GP message on your journal tell you you need to consent/ reply by a certain date? Mine told me I had to contact them by 14th June, otherwise they’d just assess without GP consent.

it all seems so random. There’s a person who got the GP message more than two weeks ago and heard nothing since. Someone else got the GP message and got their LWCRA extended without even filling in a form.

it was last Thursday that I got the GP message. Not heard from them since aside from a message from them on my journal saying they’re not sending me a form.

I really don’t understand their logic? It’s not clear whether they really are contacting our doctors. 

I know the logic is baffling . I was at my surgery the other day seeing the nurse and they never mentioned anything but I’m not sure they would anyway . 

Oh I can’t believe it, I really don’t need this right now. 

Was there a date by which you had to give GP consent on your journal?

StillIRise

paries1 said:

StillIRise said:

paries1 said:

StillIRise said:

paries1 said:

StillIRise said:

paries1 said:

Also I have the received the message on my Journal saying they are sending out the UC50, so stressed now about this . 

Nooooooo.
I am so sorry!

did you give them permission to contact your GP in the end!

I did give them consent , I’m so stressed about this. My GP is useless so I thought I’d still receive one but there was a tiny part of me that was hoping they’d leave me alone because if my meds etc 

I wonder if they actually spoke to your GP?

did your GP message on your journal tell you you need to consent/ reply by a certain date? Mine told me I had to contact them by 14th June, otherwise they’d just assess without GP consent.

it all seems so random. There’s a person who got the GP message more than two weeks ago and heard nothing since. Someone else got the GP message and got their LWCRA extended without even filling in a form.

it was last Thursday that I got the GP message. Not heard from them since aside from a message from them on my journal saying they’re not sending me a form.

I really don’t understand their logic? It’s not clear whether they really are contacting our doctors. 

I know the logic is baffling . I was at my surgery the other day seeing the nurse and they never mentioned anything but I’m not sure they would anyway . 

Oh I can’t believe it, I really don’t need this right now. 

Was there a date by which you had to give GP consent on your journal?

No there was no date on mine, wish I’d have just ignored it a bit longer now until they messaged again . 

Their behaviour is sooooo random.

I wonder why mine had a specific date on it?

I don’t think ignoring them would have helped.

it’s possible they try to speak to the doctor first but they’ve barely had time to do that in your case. Didn’t they only contact you last week?

Also I think you said they tried to call you prior to the journal messsge? They didn’t try to call me at all!