A COUPLE have revealed how they save thousands after moving into a caravan when they were kicked out of their home for no reason.
Ivan and his partner live in a static home in Lincolnshire after being given just eight weeks to leave their private rental earlier this year.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ivan explained that the pair had been subject to a Section 21 notice, more commonly known as a “no fault eviction“, because their landlord wanted to sell the property.
As the name suggests, Section 21 allows a homeowner to end an agreement with their tenants without having to justify the decision based on something the occupant has done.
Such evictions were set to be banned by the previous government but did not make it through Parliament before the General Election.
Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves has pledged to push the new law through, but almost a million Brits, including Ivan, were pushed out of rentals under Section 21 since the ban was promised.
By The Sun’s consumer champion Laura Purkess
GET FREE LEGAL ADVICE
YOU can fight a no-fault eviction through the courts, and usually get free legal advice.
Seek help as soon as you’re served a notice, to give you time to build a case.
The Government’s Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service provides early legal support on housing issues.
Look for a local provider at find-legal-advice.justice.gov.uk.
The court can only void an eviction notice if it’s “invalid”, so your best bet is to prove it doesn’t meet the right criteria, advises housing charity Shelter.
For example, landlords must use Form 6A to issue a notice.
Nothing else is valid.
You must also be given two months’ notice to move out and it must be at least four months since the start of your original tenancy.
Reagan Jones, director of compliance at rental service Zero Deposit, adds: “If your landlord doesn’t apply to the courts within six months of issuing a Section 21 notice, it becomes invalid and they will need to repeat the initial process.” Unresolved issues with your home can also help your case.
Mr Jones says: “A lack of a working smoke alarm or carbon- monoxide alarm could render a Section 21 invalid, among other property-related issues.
“Your landlord may have failed to give you electrical and gas-check certificates, illegally charged you fees or evicted you following a complaint you’ve made about the property,” he adds.
The security deposit on your home must be in a protected tenancy deposit scheme from when you move in.
WHAT IF MY NOTICE IS VALID?
THERE are still other ways to challenge being evicted.
Speak to your landlord and see if there’s room for negotiation, Mr Jones advises.
Most should be willing to negotiate and be flexible to give you time to find a new home.
Mr Jones adds: “If you do opt to remain in the property beyond your eviction date, you’ll be given an opportunity to voice your side of the story in the court process which can ultimately influence whether or not a possession order is granted.”
WHAT IF I GO TO COURT?
IT’S best to attend the hearing in person, Shelter advises.
The court will normally set the time and date of the hearing when they send you the paperwork — usually four to eight weeks later.
If you can’t attend, tell the court as soon as possible and give a good reason — maybe a sudden and serious health issue.
He explained: “Caravan life wasn’t a thing that we chose.
“We were told we had eight weeks to leave because the landlord was selling.
“That puts you in a very scary situation.
“We cashed in our pension and we used that money to buy this van.
“If we hadn’t done that, we’d be homeless by now.”
However, Ivan said that he “hasn’t looked back since” as, despite all the upheaval caused by the move, he loves his van life just as much.
The unit comes fitted out with a full kitchen, sitting room and bathroom and the site fees are “very reasonable”, he added.
Even better, he and his partner own the van in full, so never have to worry about the threat of eviction again.
There’s even a small garden where green-fingered Ivan can grow his vegetables, plus an allotment nearby for even more.
Plus all they have to pay for are the site fees, gas, electricity and water so they save thousands every month by not shelling out on rent.
Ivan went on: “We bought the van, we pay the site fees and that sets us up for the year.
“If [gas and electricity] even out, we’re happy with that.”
It comes after a delivery driver forked out £180,000 for a luxury caravan for his retirement, only to find that a little-known law prevents him from living in it.
