How To Find Out If A Section 8 Has Been Started Again Me

[UC989]

Hi All,

I live in an HMO and it's not a great place to live. But unfortunately due to my circumstances and the current housing climate I'm stuck here for the immediate future. My letting agents have previously managed to get an eviction order against me without my knowledge. Had I not overheard another tenant talking about it in the early hours of the day of the eviction I would have been evicted. I managed to stop it by sending my letting agents an email saying I had no knowledge of the eviction and therefore it was illegal. My assumption is the bailiff then refused to carry it out.

I have good reason to suspect they're doing it again. Being a HMO my post is not secure and there are other tenants who have and will steal it to help the letting agents. As I said early. Last time I had no knowledge. I didn't receive anything from the court or bailiff's. So does anybody know how I find out if a Section 8 has been started against me? It is impossible to get through to my local court (I live in London) by phone and they don't respond to any other attempts to contact them. I remember several years ago ringing a number and they were able to search for court cases by name at a specific court. I've sent a long time on Google trying to find the number again but with no luck.

Any help would be appreciated and thank you in advance.

[islandgirl]

I am confused. What were the grounds of the previous S8 which you avoided? Are you on an AST?

[UC989]

I have no idea! I didn't know anything about it. My letting agents had managed to go to court and secure I'm assuming a section 8. Then they obviously got an eviction order and arranged the bailiff's. All without me knowing anything about it.

I didn't get anything through the post because another tenant must have stolen it. The letting agents didn't say a word to me because they were obviously hoping to get to the point where the bailiff's turn up and evict me without me knowing anything about it.

I'm on an AST. My letting agents paperwork isn't in order for a section 21. Hence having to sneak in a section 8 without my knowledge.

[islandgirl]

Well they have to serve it on you for it to be valid, clearly. Also what grounds did they use last time? Are you up to date with the rent? I honestly do not know how you check if a S8 claim has been made - maybe Shelter would?

[UC989]

I'm behind with the rent but not the required two months.

I have no idea what grounds were used. All I know is by sending an email saying I had no idea about the eviction in the early hours of the morning of the eviction. I managed to stop it. I've tried to find out the details but with no luck. What do you do if you don't receive the paperwork and the court is impossible to reach? It's not just me. Basically every Google review of the court says the same thing. Impossible to get through to it. You're not even allowed into the court unless you have a case in there. How it functions on a daily basis is beyond me.

Had I not overheard another tenant telling the police (long and boring story) I was getting evicted that day. The first I would have known about it was when the bailiff's turned up. I don't know enough about the law and my rights when they actually turn up. My assumption is the bailiff's and my letting agents thought they could 'bluff' their way through it because of my lack of knowledge.

Using the rent as an example. If I don't know I'm meant to be in court. My letting agents can easily present a case to say I'm behind with my rent by two months and secure the eviction. If I'm there I can prove I'm not behind by the required two month's.

I'm not 100% clear what you mean by 'Well they have to serve it on you for it to be valid, clearly'. Would you mind clarifying it for me please?

[islandgirl]

The notice has to be served on you. The person trying to evict you has to prove it has been served for it to be valid. They sent it by letter but you say it was stolen which is why you did not know. I have no idea how you prove you did not get it though...

[UC989]

Thank you for explaining that.

Because of what happened before. I regularly write to my letting agents telling them I have no knowledge of any type of eviction, being a HMO anybody in the house has access to the post and my post is regularly stolen. Do you think that will cover it?

I can't believe it's as hard as it is to find out something which should be so simple!