Help I’ve been evicted!
Some things to do if you have been evicted from your home
When someone is sent a possession order for eviction, this can be a very distressing and shocking experience. The tenant may have been told that they will be contacted before they have to leave. However, unfortunately, there are many occasions when after receiving a possession order from the County court, the landlord will go to the High Court to speed up the eviction process. When the High court grants the possession order, the tenant can be evicted immediately, without further notice. This can lead to increased distress and upset to the tenant who is being evicted. High Court Enforcement Officers have the authority to come to the property and evict you, on the day, without and notice.
Some Things To Do
Some things you can do if this happens are, gather your most needed possessions, Identification documents, passport(s), proof on any state benefits, bank statements, a copy of the eviction notice from the High Court Enforcement Officers (Bailiffs). If you can get a housing solicitor or barrister, get one. Contact the local authority and inform them that you have been evicted. Tell them you are homeless and have nowhere to live. Go directly to the housing office that deals with homelessness.
Look up the, Homelessness code of guidance for local authorities {{Homelessness_Code_of_Guidance_for_Local_Authorities}}
Gatekeeping and the local authority housing department
Unfortunately, a process known as gate keeping is known to take place when you contact the local authority. Gatekeeping is where the council officers attempt to fob you off. For example, the may tell you to call a family member and ask to stay with them, they may tell you to go and stay with a friend or to come back tomorrow. In each of these scenarios it is crucial you reiterate in as calm a manner as possible, that you have no place to go, and that under the Homelessness code of guidance for local authorities {{Homelessness_Code_of_Guidance_for_Local_Authorities}}, they have a duty to provide you with help and support to find emergency or interim accommodation.
If you say you are staying with a friend or family member for the evening, Council’s have been known to use that as a reason to say you are not entitled to any help from them, because you are not homeless.
If the Council officers continue to fob you off, ensure you ask for the name(s) of the people fobbing you off, the name of the manager on duty and a copy of the reasons they are telling you to leave in writing on letter headed paper. Again, please ensure you get the names of all of the people you speak to. And do your best to stay calm.
Contact your local councillors if you are fobbed off. Council officers (people who work for the council) are under a legal duty to respond to queries from Councillors.
Support and Advocacy
You can find out who your local councillor is using the Find your local councillors {{Click_on_me_to_find_your_local_councillors}} site. Type the post code of the address that you have just been evicted from, and that should take you to the website for your local council. Here you can find your councillors.
Then type in the post code on the council page to find your councillors.
If possible email them, so you have a written record of contacting them, and call them. You can ask them to make representations on your behalf to the housing department.
There is no guarantee that the Councillor will help, but it is important to email them, call them and keep records of contacting them.
You should also contact your MP {{Click_on_me_to_find_your_MP}}. However, when you do this give the MP your postcode, otherwise, they will not be able to help you. MP’s can only help people who live in their constituency (area). So, always include your post code.
Legal Help
If you have the money or the ability to get a quality and effective housing solicitor/barrister, get one. If not, some other organisations and resources that can help are below:
Shelter: {{Shelter}}
Advice Now: {{Advice_Now}}
Legal advice and helplines (for England and Wales): {{Advice_Now_Legal_advice_and_helplines_for_England_and_Wales}}
Mary Ward Legal Centre: {{Mary_Ward_Legal_Centre}}
Map of Law Centres: {{Map_of_Law_Centres}}
Citizens Advice: {{Citizens_Advice}}
Housing Advice: {{Housing_Advice_Resources}}
Advocate: {{Advocate}}
ALTERNATIVE ADVICE SERVICES: {{Alternative_Advice_Services}}
The Equal Treatment Bench Book: {{The_Equal_Treatment_Bench_Book}}