Tenancy eviction (without contract)

djspecialist

@NPP we have a cat of our own.  Both are males - I don't think putting the two in the same house would end well.

holnrew

If they were both neutered young it might be okay. In my experience it's boys and girls that fight. Could be worth trying how they get on

robgilmo

The best people to talk to are shelter , http://www.shelter.org.uk/ , unlike the CAB (who can be quite helpful) they are pretty much experts in this field. This will tell you everything you need to know about section 21 and section 8 , http://www.thetenantsvoice.co.uk/category/eviction-and-notice/?orderby=default&pgCat=ha   Was the notice served on a rent day? It has to be and cannot be back dated. 

djspecialist

Thanks @robgilmo.  Someone else suggested Shelter via PM.  I admit, I was previously under the impression that they worked solely to protect people living on the street, but having looked at their website I now understand their remit is wider - and would cover my friend's situation.  I have passed on the suggestion.

Good point about the requirement for section 21 to be served on a rent day.  Actually, I suspect the notice may have been invalid in other ways.  I'll suggest to my friend that she checks against the criteria on that website, and / or asks CAB or Shelter to check on her behalf.

spark240

@djspecialist ...so We have been renting properties out for some 12yrs now, and generally without problems.

There is some good advice here already, no existing AST ...dodgy for all parties, but in light of this the tenant should always be aware they can be asked to leave at any time, so this should have a bearing on having pets etc,  I know its their home and all that, but sadly thats the facts.

DO NOT leave the property voluntarily....as a LL , I shouldn't say that really, but again, its a fact as suggested already.

Getting any deposit back without AST / Inventory / deposit protection scheme....forget it. 

Definitely ask the LL if there can be an agreed extension of time ( are they on amicable terms at the moment)?

Section 21....the rules are indeed very strict, one of our first efforts got thrown out of court due to a 1 day date error, it then took about 6 weeks to serve another.  

AST to Periodic changes nothing other than notice period required by either party to leave / evict.

Being a Gold star tenant means nothing when the LL is ready to sell or evict.

Keep paying the rent, this could affect both the existing situation and any future applications.

Finally the cat.....again going against my LL instinct....I would rehome with with friends, or cat home or similar short term, then take it back into the new home when appropriate !  its amazing how many tenants have stray cats appear?    

Good luck anyway, these thing usually work out ..

djspecialist

Closing the loop on this one: all's well that ends well.  My friend, her daughter and her cat recently moved into a new rented property (with a contract this time).

Thanks again for all the advice offered on this thread, and via PM.  In the end, no hardball was required with the current landlord, but it was reassuring to know the options which would have been available, had she not found a new place to live.

Nitefly

Good news!