I am being kicked out of my home with my disabled son with just a few weeks notice – we have nowhere to go
A mother and her disabled son are among a string of neighbors who are thrown out within weeks.
The 59-year-old woman was in tears after reading a letter telling her, her husband and their 30-year-old son, who has Down syndrome, to move.
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They have lived in their home in Thealby, North Lincolnshire, for three years and are struggling to find somewhere else due to the high rent prices, Grimsby Live reports.
Earlier this month, tenants in their row of townhouses received letters telling them they have until April to move out because the landlord has decided to sell them all.
The mum told Scunthorpe Live: “We’ve always been told that as long as we take care of it, it’s ours for life.
“The gentleman just handed the letter over and said, ‘I have to do this, I’m sorry,’ handed it to me and left. He didn’t explain anything. I just opened the letter and just cried. I felt numb.”
“I’m almost 60, my husband is in his 50s and he has heart problems. He works shifts and I look after my son full-time, so we only have one income.
“We don’t have that much money and we are not able to buy anything. We have to eat, drink and pay bills, so how are we going to raise the money?” she said.
“My son has Down Syndrome, he has a heart condition and he also suffers from anxiety and panic attacks.
“We have to live in this area because my mother who is ill in the hospital is from Burton and when she comes home I am her caregiver too. I can’t be a million miles away from her.
“It came at the worst possible time for me, I have enough to do.
“I know they give us two months notice, but what will we find in two months? The rental prices are extortionate. It’s just going to be so, so hard to find anywhere.”
She said she accepted a rent increase but blasted that there had been “no negotiations at all with any of the tenants” and that they had no indication it would happen.
She added: “Even if they offered us other rental properties that would be fine but they don’t even come up to us and say they can help. We didn’t have any information about it, so I don’t know what he’s thinking or why he’s doing it.
“I wish I knew. I could understand a bit more if I knew a reason, but no reason was given.
“I’m no longer numb, sat down and cried about it, I’m actually angry now because it’s just a situation I’ve never had to face.”
Evictions: Your Rights
If you are evicted, you have the following rights
Your landlord must:
- Provide a valid Section 21 or Section 8 notice
- Obtain a writ of possession from the court if you have not departed by the date of the Section 21 or Section 8 Notice
- Ask the court for a warrant of possession if you have not left by the warrant of possession date
- Get an eviction order from the court – this means bailiffs can make you leave your house
You could potentially challenge your eviction if your landlord has discriminated against you. For example, if they kick you out –
- Because of who you are
- in a way that makes it harder for you compared to other people
- for a reason related to your disability
- because you have previously complained about discrimination
If you need help finding housing, you can get extra money, including housing benefit or Universal Credit.
Another tenant said: “I was initially panicked and angry as were all the neighbours. I felt like we were pulled out straight away, we had no warning.
“It doesn’t just happen overnight, they could have given us some insight.
“We’ve been told it’s a business decision, it’s nothing personal, but it’s personal. Due to the cost of living crisis, nobody can afford houses at the moment.”
The letter from DDM Agriculture on behalf of the landlord reads: ‘As you are no doubt aware, Robert Sheffield is now the owner of the property you occupy and as a result some of the priorities of the property have changed.
“A thorough review of all assets was recently carried out and various options were considered. It was concluded that the landlord did not decide to sell the property you live in without careful consideration.
“Unfortunately for you this means that we have to formalize your tenancy. This decision was not easy for us.”
Normanby Estates and DDM Agriculture have been approached for comment.
https://www.thesun.ie/money/10139520/kicked-out-no-where-live/ I am being kicked out of my home with my disabled son with just a few weeks notice – we have nowhere to go