We didn't know our house is for sale!

Some of you might remember my Deadbeat landlord post http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=66094.0 So, my house mate witnessed a man taking photos of our house the other day. They asked our landlord and he said that the photographer was merely a friend.  Anyway, last night we found on a real estate website that our house was for sale, however we, the tenants haven't signed a contract yet and our landlord didn't even bother mentioning that he was placing the house for sale! We had asked him countless times about his plans for the house and he just said that his plans were on the back burner for a while.

Has anyone had this happen before? Our landlord always assured us that he needed a month's notice if any of us were leaving and that he would promise the same for us if he needed us to leave. Gahhh, I have three essays due next month! I don't need this right now! 

I'd contact Shelter for help & advice.

I'm sorry to hear of your situation and the stress it's putting you under.

I have to ask the question other people asked in that thread you linked: what are you gaining by staying in this house??  You don't have a contract so you don't need to stay.  Hell, I'm not even sure you need to pay rent, but I'm sure someone else knows that better than I do. 

Important thing: Have you already paid a deposit?  It's the only reason I can imagine you'd be worried about staying in his house. 

Look for a new house immediately.  It SUCKS that you have to go through this but based on the information you've given us, your roommate is 100% correct to leave.  I would.  It sucks for you that it comes at a bad time. 

I agree. Move out. Leave him in a lurch before he does that to you.

I have to agree.

He has already shown bad faith by not fixing things, by not showing up when he has promised, by lying to you, etc.

I would contact Shelter as Weby has suggested or the CAB to see what your rights are without a contract. If you have paid a deposit, I'd be withholding any rent due against that and looking for a new place ASAP.

Also, I'd start keeping a log of all conversations you have with, regardless of how trivial, and noting the date, time and content of the conversation. Do this retroactively if you can.

I sympathize. My initial landlord was a first class wanker, and finding another place/moving was a huge hassle but he was worth getting away from. Not all landlords are bad and you don't have to put up with this type of behaviour!

Leave, Leave, Leave.

Not to be a scary scaremonger but from a long experience with working in consumer credit, I would say he is very likely in mortgage arrears and that's why he wont sign a contract, is evasive and the house is up for sale.

If this is true the house can be repossessed by the bank and you'll be booted out with not much to zero notice at any point.

Get your stuff and get gone!