homeless

They need to contact the council and citizens advice as well. The council need to know that they are at risk of homelessness

What is the FIL planning to do with his council flat? Is he handing it back to the council or planning to keep it illegally? The council could come and evict them if the named tenant has moved out

Do they have enough money to rent privately?

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Has her husband lived anywhere else ?
DH's cousin had always lived with his mum when she died the council transfered the tenancy to him.
Contact them asap

Sit tight.
If they move before being forcibly evicted the council will class them as "voluntarily homeless" and they will go straight to the bottom of the list and get no help.

Its wrong but that is the system.

Perhaps the council would transfer the tenancy to her.

If they can't afford to buy, they'll have to find somewhere to rent. Surely after being married for x number of years and having three children, they'd have some savings since they've been living with him ?

What a horrible situation to be in. Apart from the moral/ personal issues, maybe they can just sit tight for a while. They will eventually be evicted by the council, but I think that may only be after a court order is made. It would give them time to make some alternative arrangements.
Can they rent privately?

What a shame and what a shock
Get to the council housing offices as soon as you can that’s the only advice I can give you