For thinking this new Landlord is being unreasonable/unfair

[RentConfusion]

Ok I'm not sure if this is in the correct topic, but as I'm on the App it is the most appropriate Topic I could find!

So, I'm currently a Disabled single mother to a 2yr old. I have recently applied for a new house to rent as my current house is just too tiny and is no longer appropriate for me or my daughter. I am trying to find an accommodating job but despite discrimination laws, I still don't seem to be getting anywhere!

Anyway, even though I don't work, my income (of 5 different sources i.e.: Tax Credits, PIP, Housing Benefit, Child Benefit & Child Maintenance attached to ex's Earnings - all of which this guy is happy to include in affordability calculations ) is still just over £27k which is a perfectly acceptable income for the rent on the property I have applied for (via a private Landlord). I did offer him 3 months rent upfront as an added assurance, and also to encourage him to choose us over the many, many other applicants! (Rental properties in my area - Harrogate- are massively over-subscribed because of extortionate house prices!)

However, because I 'don't work' this is the proposal from the Landlord that I have just received via email:

"For the purpose of giving you confidence to give notice to your current landlord, I am happy to confirm, on the basis of the screening so far, that I will rent to you on condition of maintaining 3 months rent up to 6 month. After then maintaining 2 months in advance. All regular payments by standing order.
Ie...
Day 1... £2250 (3mths)
1 mth in... £750
2 mth... £750
3 mth... £750
4 mth... £0
5 mth... £750 unless you have a job earning £460+ per month, then £0
6+ mth... £750 and monthly thereafter, on one month notice from you."

Am I right in thinking this is hugely unfair or at the very least an odd thing to expect/request?

As I am going to be borrowing the 3 months upfront payment from my Mum, I will be repaying her @ £750pm for the first 3 months. And under his proposal, I'll also have to pay him £750pm for those 3 months too....so I'll essentially be paying £1500 in rental charges for 3 months. Which is frankly impossible!

I had to pay 6 months upfront for my current home but that meant that I only had to start paying rent on month 7....

I have asked friends who paid rent in advance in order to secure a home (very common in this area, sadly) and NONE of them were required to pay monthly AS WELL???

Am I being unreasonable? Is this common practice but I've just not come across it? WWYD?

Please no nasty/unhelpful comments. I'm asking if IAMBU in order to gain constructive criticism or reassurance.

Thanks!

[Cheby]

I'm normally the first to jump on dickhead landlords, but I don't think this is too unreasonable a request. Like PP have said, he may have difficultly getting permission from mortgage providers.

And yes, all benefits are at risk, no matter what the reason. Here are two articles where amputees have had their benefits stopped (I'm assuming that's your condition as you referenced your legs not growing back, apologies if I have hat wrong). I am not saying for a single second that this is right or fair, just that all benefits can be at risk which is why the landlord is taking extra steps.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/double-amputee-fails-overturn-atos-2721329

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2298814/Declared-fit-work-Amputee-Mark-Evans-left-brain-damaged-tumour-benefits-slashed-half.html

[NotaSnowflake]

Camptown I won't be going onto Universal Credit as I'll be working x

[Livelovebehappy]

Sounds like he's trying to be fair, but also covering himself. Maybe he has had bad experiences? If you don't want to rent on the terms he has offered, I'm sure he will be able to rent it to someone else if properties are in demand in your area, and you will just have to carry on your search for a landlord who will rent to you on your terms.

[Tantrictantrum]

If any of your attitude is showing in your messages to your potential LL you are unlikely to be successful. No one owes you anything - disability or not. And FWIW I lose money every month on my tenanted house. Not everyone's circumstances allow them to take risks

[Downtheroadfirstonleft]

YABU. The LL is taking a risk and is offering you a reasonable solution. If you don't want to accept it, don't.

[CombineBananaFister]

Harrogate is a very expensive place, landlord is being a bit twitchy and unfair but any chance you could locate somewhere a bit more manageable. We ended up in York (still lovely) because Harrogate was such a stretch.

[TreeTop7]

This landlord could have rejected you outright given that it's a landlords' market where you are, but he has come up with a proposition instead. You may not have many other options. Lots of landlords refuse to consider benefits claimants. Lots of mortgage lenders don't allow landlords to rent to them. I'd be wary of turning this down, especially if the property suits.

[camptownraces]

What happens when you go onto Universal Credit?

It will replace the "Housing Benefit" and the Child Tax credit, and may well be lower than those two together are at the moment.

Your entitlement to Local Housing Allowance is based on your circumstances, and if you move to a bigger, more expensive place LHA won't necessarily increase by as much as the increase in rent.

Check these things out before entering into a contract.

[witsender]

It doesn't sound that unusual tbh. The fact you are borrowing from your mum and will be repaying her is neither here nor there and certainly nothing to do with him. Many landlords won't, and can't accept housing benefit etc, so I'm sure you can appreciate that from that perspective you are not the most attractive prospect... especially in a strong market.

The govt change their minds left right and centre on benefits, so you can understand people's uncertainty at the moment.

[ProudBadMum]

Hopefully he will accept. When I was looking for homes I was a single working mum and no one wanted me then. A few even stated they'd take me if I was part of a couple!

Went looking at houses with partner and we got accepted straight away by the same ones who wouldn't take me on my own.

It's shitty. I hope he will come to some arrangement for you. If you have a good track record I can't understand his worry

[OurBlanche]

you're the one pocketing from other people's misfortune!

Well, that removed any sympathy I may have had for your plight.

[alltoomuchrightnow]

I agree with Proud about trying to get it paid straight to him.
I have been in similar when couldn't work and they did this

[alltoomuchrightnow]

If you were working f-t.. i'd say, massively cheap rent. It' s like what I was paying early 90s
But as a disabled single mother, I can see it's a big worry for you and you must be feeling so vulnerable.
he's obviously being v cautious

[SistaMatic]

I had similar issues when I was a single parent working part time, my overall income covered the rent but wasn't the amount they safely required and pretty much every estate agent in my area refused people on housing benefit. I had to lie through my teeth to get into a property to prove that I trustworthy enough to be there! No idea why landlords are so snooty, cash is the same wherever it comes from. It's a form of discrimination.

[Carrotgirl999]

Iv got no advice here just want to offer my sympathies - I'm in knaresborough and find the property market round here for rentals utterly ridiculous. Good luck with this one

[alltoomuchrightnow]

it is pretty much the norm here in the south east .
Landlords have to cover their backs too
i wish you all the best if you go ahead
I always rented in commuter belt land , ie half an hour to London areas. Always paid 2-3 months up front and then paid monthly
Sorry but he sounds reasonable

[RentConfusion]

Proud Already offered him that. I even said he can keep the extra payment of it that he will get each year (as it is paid 4 weekly) and that I will top up the 4 weekly amount each month. Which means he get's to pocket £449 per year!

No answer yet

[RentConfusion]

Tantric Of course it makes sense to you, you're the one pocketing from other people's misfortune!

I have a much more stable source of income than any job out there! My particular Disability isn't ever going to be 'denied' and why should I be treated like a money pot because of what Landlord's have mistakenly read in the Daily Mail?! My PIP is only a tiny portion of my income! I receive the majority of it because I am a parent!

So you're saying that someone who work's full time on a supermarket checkout is more desirable & their income is more 'secure' than someone in a wheelchair who is never going to be able to 'grow their legs back?!' And has another 16 years before their child will be classed as an adult? Because those are two ONLY scenarios that I would lose the bulk of my income......FACT.

PIP

[ProudBadMum]

Speak to him about getting HB paid straight to him. He can write up a letter that you hand in when you go claim

[RentConfusion]

Lakie I'm already in the Support Component of Cont Based & Income related ESA x

[RentConfusion]

Annie all my income is 'Linked to my ex's income' wtaf?! Sorry but where did you get that from? Only my child maintenance comes out of his wages! The rest is MY income!

I'm sorry but if I had a salary of £26k and I suddenly lost my job I'd be penniless! I will NEVER lose my PIP/Housing Benefit/Child Benefit or Tax Credits!! And if I only lost one I wouldn't lose the lot! It's more secure than anyone else!!!

[Tantrictantrum]

I'm a LL. Frankly you are lucky he is considering you. Disability benefits are under threat with lots of people being refused PIP etc. I can't get agreement from mortgage provider to accept dss.

The advance rent is so he can protect himself from non payment.
If you don't pay, he will just give you notice after the six months. This takes 2 months. That rent advance is to cover him in this event. Makes sense.

[SilentlyScreamingAgain]

If you do decide to pay in this way, ask for proof that the mortgage payments or any loans secured on the house are up to date.

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

I know of cases where people have been asked for - and paid - up to a year's rent.

[1frenchfoodie]

I think the way the landlord has worded it is a bit strange but it is essentially (as others have said) 2 months rent deposit on move dropping to 1 month after the third. Doesn't seem crazy steep though I am used to London housing market..

Yes the landlord is dictating terms and seems overly suspicious given your excellent long term renting record but it sounds like there is lots of competition and it would have been even easier for them to not consider you at all.