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Mike Osbourn, who shares custody of his children with his ex-partner, has been handed an eviction notice by his landlord but, with nowhere to go, he has begged his landlord for more time. He lives in Penryn, Cornwall, a county currently facing a housing shortage after a rise in second home ownership during the pandemic.

As a result, house prices have shot up and Mike says he has struggled to find somewhere new to live. Now, he claims bailiffs are going to come and kick him out.

He doesn’t want to leave the area because he has a livelihood there, reports Cornwall Live.

Mike claims: “We lost a few houses because the landlords changed their minds. That’s quite common, having spoken to estate agents. Very unfortunate.

“I’ve tried to explain how hard it is to my own – agents receive upwards of hundreds of people inquiring per property.

“We did find a house with a developer, a new build, it wasn’t complete. He left us hanging, held on to our deposit, for two months, long state of limbo before he said he was going to sell instead.”

I’ve tried to explain how hard it is to my own – agents receive upwards of hundreds of people inquiring per property

Mike Osbourn

Mike now faces joining Cornwall Council’s emergency accommodation list.

He claims his landlord told him last year that he was planning to sell the property, but that he shouldn’t worry as he was “just testing the waters”.

“It was very reassuring. Everything was amicable,” Mike claims

But a few months later, in November 2020, the landlord handed Mike, an eviction notice saying he must leave the property in six months.

Since then, he and his son, an apprentice joiner, have struggled to find a new home in Cornwall.

Mike said: “What can I do that I’m not already doing? We had a court hearing, a Zoom call.

“That was futile and the judge had to follow the line of the law as my landlord was in his legal right to evict us. That was futile, very disheartening.

“I hoped to appeal to his better nature. It has come to nothing, it’s come to this.”

The dad found a property earlier this year and was accepted but was snagged by someone who offered 12 months’ rent – around £18,000 – up front.

He added: “Often I well up, I’m on antidepressants, I have a history of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). It’s affecting me massively.

“The landlord is aware of this, but makes no difference.

“We cast our net over Hayle, Helston, Camborne, Redruth, Pool, Illogan, Truro, Falmouth and Penryn. Eastwards, Probus, north up to Newquay. To no avail.

“If we moved further afield, my son would have to start again.”

Mike Parry clashes with panel over second home ownership

A legal representative of Mr Osbourn’s landlord, Paul Caunter’s, at Stephens Scown LLP said: “We do not accept the allegation that Mr Osborne’s eviction is unfair.

“Mr Osborne has been given longer than required by law to find alternative accommodation. In addition, the correct legal procedure has been followed at all times.

“The correct application was made to the court.

“A possession order was made by a Judge who considered the written representations made by Mr Osborne and was subsequently confirmed by a second Judge who heard directly from Mr Osborne.”

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