If you are/were a landlord, what would persuade you?

[midori1999]

If anything, to accept a DSS tenant? I really like a property, but as my move is following a separation from my DH and I am having to relocate, I will be in benefits initially. The landlord has said no DSS, but the agent is going to discuss with them. Is there anything that may convince them? I have a guarantor and could possibly pay some rent in advance or a larger deposit.

AIBU to think they might consider me?

I don't think that's the reason at all, it's because landlords think "they" will be trouble, non payers or will trash the place. I haven't found this to be true, btw.

'We want a guarentor even with no DSS tenants blush so that on its own wouldnt be enough to persuade us. We'd want a bigger picture.'

For professional adults in full-time employment with multiples over the rent? Are you for real?

The thing that bothers me about HB is that if you declare a change in circumstances your claim gets suspended. It can take up to three weeks to get it processed. This has happened to me 4 times in 7 years. My landlord is in a good position but if a landlord has a mortgage to pay it can leave them stressed and feeling vunerable. My friend is a lone parent who works various hours and frantically tries to grab shifts to make her 16hours per week. She has had her claim suspended for 4 weeks whilst she tries to get all her paperwork in.
Having your claim suspended is good in a way as you have to get all your info in PDQ but when you have supplied everything they need you and your landlord are at the mercy of the back office. ...

I'd ask the agent what about the DSS is putting the LL off. If it's insurance/mrtgage related then there's likely nothing you can do. If it's security about payments being stopped/missed or something, perhaps you could get it paid direct to the LL and put down a bigger deposit.

Would I rent to you if I had a house? No, not because of DSS or ecause of yourself- you sound lovely- but because several of my friends have had to rent out their properties and only one has had a good experience. The rest have had damaged properties and late/no payment rent and had to try and claw back through DPS. The worst tenant was an older lady who'd been very ill before moving in: she was vile to the neighbours- so many complaints- she didn't pay rent for 3 months and needed an eviction order and she left the place seriously grim so it needed ripping out. Her deposit didn't barely covered a third of the cost. So nice as some people may appear, I wouldn't rely on that since she seemed lovely to my friend and all those who met her except the neighbours.

Tell them you will be happy to authorize direct deposit to pay the rent.

I am a landlord and I would accept someone if they seemed of reasonable character.

I was once a single parent on benefits and although I managed to set up a business and get a mortgage i cansidered trying to rent on benefits for some time and I know I would have made a reliable tenant myself in those days! It depends on the person and their reasons for finding themselves on benefits rather than disregard them as a group I think!