I have recently put one of my properties on the market. Unable to find an investor to buy it, I was inundated with enquiries from owner-occupiers. I have had to give my tenants a S21 notice, but surprise surprise they are now claiming hardship and looking to the local authority for help. I’ve been down this road before, and I know that this particular LA will advise them to stay put until bailiffs evict, otherwise they will have made themselves ‘intentionally homeless’ and will not qualify for assistance.
Does anybody know of any way around this? Is there any way the tenants can leave the property pursuant to my request and somehow still get help with housing, without me having to go through months of hell evicting them through the court?
Question
Landlord Wants Tenant to Leave (England)
Is there any way to avoid court and bailiffs
Answer
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3 Comments
There’s no way to avoid court order and bailiff if the tenant doesn’t leave.
You could try asking them why they aren’t following the guidance referred to in this article and possibly make a formal complaint. The problem is that’s it’s just guidance and the reality is that they have no houses to give them so the longer the delay the better for them.
Do you have a template I can use that succinctly puts a case to the LA why they should help?
No, it’s not something we have currently. Just quoting the guidance and then saying along the lines “will you please confirm you will be following the guidance” should be sufficient. Depending on the reply, we can decide what action is best to take (usually a formal complaint if they refuse to follow the guidance).