ok, have received formal notification in writing about eveiction. Got the date i need on the letter and have had my emergency housing needs meeting with council.
2 options:
1. THE HOMELESS ROUTE - sit tight, force landlord to evict me through court, council put me in emergency accomodation, then temporary, then 1 year tenency in council or housing association then as long as I'm a good tennant and pay my rent i have a council house for life. BAD points - 3 moves at least, stress from ex/landlord on move out day and threats etc to follow, risky where might end up (out of town?), shared facilities etc. GOOD points - council/HA house for life and cheap rent.
2. THE PRIVATE ROUTE - be assessed for housing benefit (unlikely) get loan from council for deposit and month up front (to be paid back in affordable payments). Use approoved letting agencies to find private place to rent. BAD points - rent will be about £250 a month more than council, 1 year tennancy at a time, need a gaurantor (at my age?)dealing with private landlord if anything goes wrong with property. GOOD points - ?????????? out of the "system" ??????
The council are going through my finances to see if eligible for housing benefit and will hear about that by end of week. SO, already my privacy has been invaded. Not that I have anything to hide especially financially, but you know.
Do i want to be free of the system or emerse myself in it? Is the gain of option one outweighed by the stress and pain that it will cause? Maybe I just can't afford option 2 anyway.
Most importantly do I want to put my 8 year old son through the stress of eviction and nastiness followed by at least 3 moves (maybe 2 if lucky) but with the long term gain and security of a council place? Maybe I'll be lucky and get one over the next 2 months on the council list anyway as have now moved up to Band C with the eviction. Maybe? Unlikely?
I just don't know what to do.
And to top it off, neighbours have recieved a notice through their doors saying a family from a local town have missed out on gaining a local property to rent and do you know anyone that would be interested in helping them. There's a pic of the house they were gonna have on the flyer ..... guess whos? Yep, mine.
