Chris, sorry to hear that mate.
My advice, hit the new landlord up ASAP about exactly what he has in mind regarding rent, and try to bargain with him.
If worst comes to the worst, and you have to move on, try to cut down your posessions, or pack them down and try to store them at a mate's place or somewhere. Keep only the basics by you and stay with mates if you can, or if not, in a youth hostel, cheap motel, or trailer park until you find a new place.(I've lived in a car for a few months too once, other times in my tent, and once on a hotel fire escape for a couple of weeks when I was flat broke - that was not pleasant)
Mate, if I was in America, you'd have a place to stay no questions asked. Hope it works out for ya.