To wonder what you do if you claim HB

[elderflowerlemonade]

If you claim HB and are looking for a place to rent, but landlords won't accept you, what do you do?

[038THETA]

I am also disgusted...
because the basic necessities of life (ie a secure roof over your head) are not affordable for average people in a modern wealthy country

landlords are parasites living off of the hard work of their tenants

[LazyLouLou]

Oh dear god not again!

Ridiculous, baseless temper tantrums aimed at landlords... will they never end?

I too am disgusted... but nit with landlords, but with a system that is careening out of control.

[Meandyou150]

I used to work for a letting agent. It's not as simple as "get the money from housing benefit and pay it to the landlord"

Most agencies now provide a "rent guarantee" to their landlords- this essentially means a tenant is referenced via a third party. If they pass the referencing then this third party set up an insurance policy - meaning if the tenant suddenly stops paying their rent - the insurance company will pay it on the tenants behalf.

Only tenants in full time working employment would be eligible for this insurance policy for the landlord - hence why working tenants are preferred .

[The5DayChicken]

Parasites?! Bleeding hell. As a perpetual renter, I've never thought that of a landlord. I've had a couple of crap ones, yes, but I've also had brilliant landlords who genuinely cared that my home (their house) was somewhere they'd want to live themselves. They put a lot of hard work in and were always available.

[038THETA]

Landlords don't create wealth, they extract wealth, that is a parasitic activity

[owlborn]

So no one should be a landlord? Everyone should leave their parent's home and buy straight out?

[LazyLouLou]

I wouldn't bother, owlborn. This goes round so often, the landlord haters don't see that renting is the only option for many people at many times of life.

They can't offer solutions, just hate filled, ranty and illogical posts.

There have been a few long and interesting posts on this recently. Sometimes this discussion is interesting, other times the vitriol takes over and common sense is banned from the building

[elderflowerlemonade]

I just honestly wondered in that idle 'ooh I wonder what' way that you do.

I still don't see where I got 'shitty'

[LazyLouLou]

You didn't, OP. I don't know why that comment was made.

But I am sorry, we seem to have allowed the Numerical One to derail your thread.

My apologies for having been part of that

[FishCanFly]

So no one should be a landlord? Everyone should leave their parent's home and buy straight out?
In ideal world, that would be ideal. But all those buy-to-let schemes -- i agree its somewhat parasitic. Especially in UK where there is such a housing shortage.

[ApprenticeViper]

Many, if not all, councils have a Housing Advice or Housing Aid team, who can act as intermediary between landlord/agent and prospective tenant, which can help tenants solely reliant on benefits to secure accommodation. In some cases, Discretionary Housing Payments can be made for deposits and rent in advance. I don't think councils have gone so far as to act as guarantors, but they have certainly lent tenants money for deposits and rent in advance.

DP and I rent despite both working full-time; neither of us has the ££££££s required for a deposit to buy a house, as much as we would like to. We have dealt with some absolutely shocking lettings agents, and some that were fantastic. It really is a lottery.

[elderflowerlemonade]

Next question then, what about people with bad credit who might not be accepted through agencies?

[prorsum]

I would imagine they're well and truly screwed.

To your previous point, I think it's very unfair on recipients of HB, that it's so hard to get accommodation privately. Rents in London, I live here so can only speak to that, are a complete joke and landlords are charging way over the odds.

The area I live in is way down the list of desirable areas, you would never know by the prices house sell for, so landlords make a killing.

[elderflowerlemonade]

Well yes, but they must live somewhere!

[prorsum]

Relatives, friends? I really don't know. If you've got kids and need somewhere to live it's possible the council will house you but it's pot luck where you end up.

People may stay at a friends whilst they save up a deposit?

[LazyLouLou]

But if all rents are high then they aren't 'over the odds' for that area.

Landlords would have to lower rents if they could not fill their properties. It is not a private individual's responsibility to sort out the housing crisis in any area. Blame successive governments that have run down, sold off, not invested in housing stock...

I have no idea why HB recipients get such a hard time in some places and not in others. It baffles me that some lenders and insurers have caveats that exclude them. I assume that they are taken up as they are most available/cheap... but that again is part of the system not any landlord.

Instead of decrying 'greedy landlords' set about your local MP and get them to raise a question in the House. Basically, shut up and do something, if it bothers you that much.

[TravellingHopefully12]

Some cities have special agents - like Letfirst in Scotland, who I think have properties especially for people on HB, and they don't ask for a deposit as they understand your circumstances. For these you actually have to demonstrate how little you earn, rather than how much - maybe there's something like that in your city?

[prorsum]

Basically, shut up and do something, if it bothers you that much.

It is over the odds because the rents are extortionate because house prices are extortionate. People spend more on rent pcm than home owners.

I can't do anything and neither can my MP; It's a private individuals property - an Englishman's home is his castle and all that.

It has been explained why HB recipients get such a hard time on this thread.

I don't think I will shut up, just because I can't change something does not mean I should be quiet and accept it.

[LazyLouLou]

So, what do you think shouting on here is going to change?

Shut up shouting here, get out there and do something about it. Otherwise all you are doing is moaning and that won't change anything.

Rents are often higher than mortgage payments. That is nothing new. And you are missing the point, as do many who think landlords are the problem. I am not talking about controlling rents charged by private landlords, that would be ridiculous. I am talking about doing the bleeding obvious, which your MP certainly can do something about. They can raise questions about social housing, more investment in LA housing.

You are right, don't be quiet, but focus you energy where it will do some good.

[prorsum]

My understanding is that using capital letters indicates shouting? I was merely expressing an opinion on the rents in London. Very defensive about landlords aren't you.

Whilst the current government is in charge there will be no change in housing policy. Did you not hear Mr Cameron say he will allow tenants in HA get the right to buy. His party does not believe the state should provide homes for people so they are not going to invest in such a policy.

So I will continue to grumble, not shout, and thank all the Gods, I have my HA home. And hope the HA win the court case they will fight to stop this disgusting proposal.

[suzannecanthecan]

could banks not be prohibited from having a no housing benefit clause in BTL mortgages?

[Thymeout]

Why would it be ridiculous to control rents charged by private landlords?
We had rent controls and rent tribunals from 1919 until John Major discontinued them.

Of course, you need to consider the consequences, given that the housing system is interlinked - and many buy-to-let landlords have turned to property because they were let down over private pensions - but it's another tool in the box and shouldn't be dismissed.

[LazyLouLou]

Ye gods! Is that it? I am defensive about landlords? How bad of me!

What is it in my posts that leads you to assume I think that right to buy is a good thing? Or that Mr Cameron is right about this, or anything?

You can sit in your HA home and hope all you like. I would be more impressed had you got up, gone out and found a way to help HAs win their court case.

[LazyLouLou]

If you want to cause another housing crash, go ahead. But the reality of the current situation is not that of yesteryear. How would you bring in such a proposal without causing another housing crash?

As you said, Thymeout, it is all a convoluted mess and there is no one simple solution. Finding a starting point that would not cause chaos across the system is vital. My pov is that more social/council housing would reduce the need for private landlords, meaning rents would have to reduce... but that would assume that purchase prices would also reduce... so maybe not!

There is no simple solution...

[prorsum]

The tone of your post sound defensive to me, I did not mention greedy landlords nor was I shouting. I mention my belief that the rents were too high.

I did not say you supported Cameron. I explained why I thought my MP could do very, very little about housing policy.

I'm not a lawyer, though if they want someone to carry their bags, I'll happily do it. If my HA want to use my reason for needing a home I will happily stand in court and do that too.