Landlady evicting me from flat 7 weeks after having my first baby

Question

Hi everyone,

I am suffering from depression because of sooo many stressful things happening in my life, one of them is the fact that i need to go abroad to meet family but i am stuck here because landlady is getting eviction order any day from now.

i got severe depression and it's getting worse every day, if not every minute, i NEED to go home for some balance and proper recovery from a traumatic childbirth.. everytime i turn my computer on i think of booking my flight but then i get stressed when i remind myself that i cant because of this silly landlady ...

i dont want to waste money going all the way home abroad and receive an email from her telling me that i have one week to leave flat!! then i will have to come back to get my things out of the flat

please help me sort it out.. what shall i do?

grateful for any advice

thanks

Answer 1

go to citizens advice  

Answer 2

What she is doing is ILLEGAL!

She cannot evict you just for having a baby - your family status is none of her business as long as all adults are on the lease and you pay the rent on time.

The hard part is proving that her reason is fraud. I'm not quite sure how to do that- it would be worth consulting a lawyer.

Answer 3

Why is she evicting you.

Answer 4

the council have got to give you a flat because you have a child. its against the law to leave you homeless. go to citizen advice, they will advise you. good luck.xx

Answer 5

First off, you should get to a doctor to get some medication for post-partum depression.  It's very common in new mothers and even non-new mothers.  Then you should see if there's a local support group for mothers of new-borns you can join.  Then see if there's any way at all to get out of the eviction.  I.E. clean up, or pay the rent, borrow money etc.  Just take it one day at a time and try not to worry too much.  It's hard to be a parent and can sometimes get overwhelming.  Especially if you're alone.  Best of luck.

Answer 6

Could you move out and store your things and stay with your family.

Answer 7

She has to give you 30 days notice. Talk to your Dr. about postpartum depression.

Answer 8

Don't panic yet!  The main reason for being able to evict someone is non payment of rent.  As long as you are not two months behind, this is not an option for her.  Every other option is at the judge's discresion and there are not many judges who will be impressed by her behaviour!  

It is very important that you get proper advice before you do anything silly.  Contact Shelter and your Council Private Letting department immediately and explain the situation to them.  Do this first thing tomorrow morning and then get yourself down to the council office, take a pen and fill in the council housing application form then and there.  You will be told that even if she does get an eviction order you must not move - if you do, you could be making yourself intentionally homeless.  Getting to court will take her two weeks to a month and the court would give you a month even after that.  From what I have read and heard, maintainance is not official grounds for ending a tenancy.  It sounds rather spiteful - another thing that does not look good in court.

When did you move into the flat?  Was it after last April?  If so, have you had details of where your deposit is being kept for safekeeping?  If you haven't then the liklihood is that it is not in a government approved scheme - this is illegal and will give your landlady a criminal record as well as her being ordered to pay you compensation which could be as much as three times the deposit.  Have you seen a copy of the gas safety certificate?  Many landlords forget about this but it is also a criminal act not to have one.  Your landlady does not need a criminal record!  

You need to take action now.  I know it is h**l with depression - I'm bi-polar so depression is a natural state of affairs for me but you will feel much better if you share this with someone who can help and spell out your rights.  In private renting, you need to be well clued up on these!  Let us know how you get on.  

  

Answer 9

Why dont you move out first? Put all the stuff you dont NEED in a storage place, and then go see your family. If you dicide to need to make a move then all your stuff is already packed. If you are getting evicted, all your stuff is already packed, and already out of the way.

Answer 10

She sounds like a hateful woman. Why don't you have a large yard sale and sell of anything you don't want or need. Use the money to move back home permanently.

Answer 11

Talk to a parent or if you are religious, talk to your God/godess/gods/goddessess/ancestors, etc. Also trying to talk to a friend and try to get her/him to smooth things out with your landlady or give you aid/support.

Luck, SARA.

Answer 12

If you are in the UK you will be unintentionally homeless, and with a dependant you will be in priority need.  This means the Council have a duty to find you accommodation, it might only be temporary or a B&B but rest assured you wont be on the streets.  So get off to the Council/ housing dept and tell them you have nowhere to go. Also make sure you tell them about your medical problems.

There is a lot of miss information on here - under section 21 of the housing act the Landlord does not have to give ANY reason for seeking possession of the property, so forget about all that 'she can only kick you out if you are behind with rent or anti-social stuff'.  Provided she issued the correct notice (2 months, not 30 days), she can seek a possession order in court and there is nothing you can do I'm afraid.

I haope it works out for you.

Answer 13

If you need help, there are social programs in every city, look them up on the internet.

Answer 14

Go to the Citizens Advice Bureau, that's if you live in the UK.

Answer 15

Is there a legitimate reason you're being evicted?

Answer 16

Your landlady has to give you a written 30 day notice in order to evict you on the 1st or 15th of the month.  If you are behind on your rent I suggest you talk to her and make payment arrangements with her and stick to it.  I would hope that you wouldn't plan to see your family overseas and spend that kind of money if you can't pay your rent.  

No landlord has the right to throw you out with a seven day notice, that is illegal.  The only time short notices like that are given is if your landlord took you to court and the court ordered a 3 day notice that the sheriff department would give to you.  After the 3 day notice given by the sheriff's if you aren't out then your landlady has the right to lock you out.

You should seek counseling or join Parents Anonymous if you have the baby blues.  It is for the good of both you and your newborn baby.  Good luck to you.

Answer 17

Number 1, she has to legally give you 30 days notice, so go to your citizens advice bureau. Number 2, if the worst comes to worst, go to your local housing department. Having a baby, they will find you immediate housing, so dont worry too much. Good luck.

Answer 18

get a lawyer to fight eviction fro mthis evil woman, and get counseling for your depression! good lcuk! hope it works out!

Answer 19

I don't know the details, but I'd just move before she evicted me. Then I'd go for the visit.

Answer 20

You are not making any sense.

If you are worried about her not getting her rent on time because you are out visiting your family post date a check for the date rent is due and give it to her in advance.

Answer 21

clear your flat out and then go home

Answer 22

sell the computer and pay the rent.

Answer 23

Plan the trip home & enjoy your visit - but b4 you go find a new place to move to.  Avoid the EVIL land lady at all costs.  

No need to add extra stress.  Good Luck to you.

Answer 24

If you are paying your rent and abiding by the contract, you should be fine and she has no grounds for booting you out. I think you need to add more information. Can you get another place to live if you know the inevitable? Have you seen a doctor for medication for your severe depression?  We can only offer advice but it is you who has to actually do it. You sound like you may be procrastination as a result of your depression.  

Answer 25

Ah, don't worry. You're not going to die anytime soon, so why should you fret? You're healthy, and you have a family, so...

Even if you are being evicted, just try to look on the bright side of things. (I know it's hard, but it really helps.)

Answer 26

she has to give you more than 7 days notice... why is she evicting you?

Answer 27

Why not talk to your landlady and see what can be done to resolve the situation?

Usually evictions happen because one is not paying their rent in a timely fashion. Other causes may be partying or loud music or some other unsavory action that is taking place in the flat. If the problem is your rent money, perhaps you can resolve it. If it's an habitual lateness, then you might have a problem.

Really, we don't know what the issue is because you didn't tell us. It's difficult to offer help when one doesn't know what the problem is.

In any case, I wish you and your baby well.

Answer 28

why is she evicting you? The only good reason would be if you hadnt paid your rent or if you were abusing the flat. More info about why needed.

Answer 29

Ok well u need to calm down and get in a jacuzzi or however u spell it but somthing relaxing and u need to just put things organized like the evection and u got to be more spacific on ur question cause i dont no what ur asking

Answer 30

thats just crazy. if i were you i would do whats best and just keep your self possitive

Answer 31

Go here : http://www.probono.net/ and try to find yourself an honest lawyer.

If you are articulate enough in your request and avoid mentioning the term "I got severe depression" when requesting a legal opinion then I'm sure some young lawyer will provide you with some free advice that will do what you most need to do; clarify your situation. You don't appear to know your rights but unfortunately, your rights depend largely on where you live and where you come from so rather than asking for advice directly on the internet, you would be better off contacting a lawyer who is au fait with the law in your region.

Irrespective as to your situation regarding rent payments and / or debt to the landlord, a good lawyer will be able to help you more than anybody right now. The citizen's advice bureau may be the only other place where the kind of support you require can be found free of charge, although your situation is complex, by the sound of things, and if you happen also to be a foreign national in your current country of residence then there is little chance they can do anything for you.

I don't know much about Human Rights 'minimum service' by other governments but I know that here in France, a woman in your situation would not have to spend a night on the street as she is protected by law.