If anyone has any knowledge of this and could spare a bit of time to answer a few questions then please let me know.
My situation is different as I rent a room on a boat.
The general premise is:
- I signed a 6 month Licence (not assured shorthold tenancy) which ends on 19th September.
- Yesterday we were all (15 people living on it) issued an eviction notice and need to leave by 30th July. The boat has to be moved due to insurance issues and won't be returning. I understand we have no option to leave.
- This has been know, I would strongly assume, by the agency since I moved on in March and they have admitted that they signed the contract for 6 months in error.
- They have admitted they a mistake and tried to say that I verbally agreed a 3 month contract.
- The above claim is a lie. A 6 month contract was agreed and both parties signed the licence. I also paid (and they accepted) 3.5 months of rent paid in advance which contradicts their 3 month stance. This was to get reduced rent over the 6 months.
My main questions are:
What are their obligations to me?
Their other properties are all more expensive, often don't come with parking which I need, are a lot smaller and they generally don't have space to securely store a bike.
These are all things which I very much looked for in a property.
If they can't offer me alternative accomodation for the same price? Should I be compensated in any way?
Should the licence actually be classed as a Assured Tenancy Agreement?
The boat:
- is at rest in the silt all the time with the exception of a very high spring tide.
- has no engine and has been there for many years.
- is extremely well secured to the land.
- has two other boats moored to the outside of it meaning, logistically, it would be extremely hard to move anyway.
- is essentially a permanant residence and the landlord DOES NOT live on the residence.
The below case discusses if a boat should be classed as a land structure and fall under the Housing Act due to sufficient annexation in a similar way. Though the occupant was outside of contract and I don't fully understand the wording throughout.
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2000/425.htmlAny advice would be hugely appreciated as I know I have to move off the boat (it is being tugged away on 31st July) but I don't want to be out of pocket if I have to move to a more expensive dwelling to retain the same standard of accommodation.
Thanks,
James