The news from my landlord in February left me reeling. He was selling the house. It was the fourth time in 20 years, three in the last eight, that our family was facing homelessness due to a landlord selling up. With seven children, each move becomes more daunting.
We started our family 25 years ago. We were saving for a deposit to buy a home, but in 2003, we were evicted when our landlord decided to sell. This cost us all our savings as we had to cover removal costs, a deposit, and letting agent fees.
In 2008, our family expanded when Rob’s daughter, unable to care for her two children, asked us to take them in. A year later, she had twins, who also came to live with us. We were renting a three-bedroom bungalow and trying to save again, but with seven children, we needed a bigger house. The move decimated our savings.
We lived in our rented home until 2017 when the landlord decided to retire. While we were given plenty of notice, finding a new home proved impossible. Private landlords consistently turned us down due to our large family, letting agents scoffed at our requests, and we were constantly targeted by scammers on Facebook. Even though we were willing to manage, housing associations only had four-bedroom properties, which were too small for our family. The council deemed us ineligible for emergency housing unless we were evicted.
The day of the eviction was terrifying. We had no idea where we would sleep that night, and our belongings went into storage. The emergency housing offered was a cramped three-bedroom house with bunk beds and a sofa bed. Our monthly rental costs jumped from £1,000 to £1,365, plus an additional £428 for storage.
After 10 weeks, we secured a new tenancy, but the house was moldy and in disrepair. The heating wouldn’t turn off, leading to exorbitant utility bills. After four years, I reported the landlord to the council, who then issued us a section 21 notice to leave because he needed to sell the house.
We finally found a small house in November 2021, but our rent increased twice within 18 months, making it even harder during the cost of living crisis. In February, the landlord decided to sell due to rising mortgage costs and our inability to pay a higher rent. We were given two months to vacate, and we’re now facing the threat of eviction again.
Finding a new place to live has been impossible. We are a family of nine, looking for a landlord who will rent to us. The daily grind can be tough, with the costs of everything amplified by our family size. Our children are stressed, missing school, and suffering from eczema flare-ups. I’m falling behind at work, and I’m constantly worried about finding somewhere near my parents, my children’s schools, and my work.
I’m exhausted and scared. I just want to provide a stable home for my children, but I’m stuck in a vicious cycle of high rents, limited housing options, and the fear of homelessness. I hope the new government will provide more rights for renters and help families like mine get onto the property ladder without needing huge deposits. For 25 years, we’ve been responsible tenants, consistently paying rent, and I’m tired of being rewarded with instability and uncertainty.
