My wife is being made redundent but live in Council Property

[Patagoniaboy]

My wife is being made redundant at Xmas. We are living in a house which was previous used by the other managerr of our Council Outdoor Centre. We have no contract regarding the propert and have lived here rent free for 11 years (though she has always been 'on call' for visitors/guests/groups while living at the Centre. How much notice do the council need to give us to move - do we have a right to buy?

[hc4361]

You are not being very clear. Is this a tied house provided by the council specifically for a council employee?

[Patagoniaboy]

Sorry I have been out with my children. We live on site and the house belongs to the education authority who also own the Outdoor Centre it is attached to. |My wife is employed as a Head of Centre and living on site allows her to be able to assist anyone who is staying at the centre when normally people would have gone home after work. Living on site allows her to trouble shoot any problems with such things as fire alarms, kitchen gas problems, general questions about where things are as well as seeing groups in. We have been told we will have 28 days notice at the end of the Easter School term to leave the house. We do not have a written contract and have signed no agreement of tennancy. The council want to sell the buildings.

My wife doesn't want to risk loosing her redundancy, so would probably prefer to abide by certain rules, but I, would like to stay put. I am not employed by anyone and only live here because of her. How long could 'I' and maybe the children forstall the leaving of the property without affecting my wife, if she left when asked.

[bednobs]

it sounds very much like a tied house, therefore i don't think you have any rights at all if the job finishes. i can't believe there is nothing written down in her contract/terms and conditions about living accomodation if it is a perk of the job. If the council are selling the site, they will either want to sell as a whole (including your house) or the other thing to consider would be would you want to live there and take a chance on what the new owners will make it into

[bednobs]

however, it should be noted that i don't have any experience with council places, ony private tied properties. therefore re right to buy, why not ask the council?

[Maydup]

How awful for you...but having said that you're best to start planning now and have somewhere ready to move to when the time comes. Otherwise you'll be evicted and then forcebly evicted which will all be very disturbing for you. Make the most of the last few months rent free and prepare to move on.

[hc4361]

This isn't a council tenancy with the right to buy etc. It is accommodation tied to employment and once the employment ends the right to occupy ends. She should be given reasonable notice, and in fact the notice of redundancy is enough, it seems to be about 3 months.


Get on the council housing list NOW.