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AIBU?

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Original poster

To accept tenants with DLA?

281 replies

thatverynightinmaxsroom · 14/09/2017 09:51

I'm a LL of an inherited property, not a professional landlord, and I'm really very ignorant about this.

I've been asked if I'd accept a tenant whose rent would be paid directly by DLA.

Is there any reason I wouldn't or shouldn't accept?!

OP posts:
MrsOverTheRoad · 14/09/2017 09:53

Is your house suitable for their physical needs?

I would want to know if any modifications would be needed....or a possibility in the future.

Otherwise no issues I could think of!

Polgaraisbloodylate · 14/09/2017 10:00

Your insurance might not allow tenants on benefits. Check with the insurance company

Spaghettio · 14/09/2017 10:00

Some mortgages don't allow it, so check with your mortgage company.

LouBlue1507 · 14/09/2017 10:03

No I wouldn't. The excuse of 'oh my payments have stopped unexpectedly or I haven't been paid yet' is far too convenient.

DarceyBusselsNose · 14/09/2017 10:03

DLA. Disability Living Allowance isnt means tested. I cant see how it would be paid direct to cover rent. That isnt the intended use of DLA.

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 14/09/2017 10:06

My concern would be that I might be forced to spend money I haven't got on alterations to the property which could then make it difficult to sell at a later stage.

butterfly56 · 14/09/2017 10:07

Disability Living Allowance is paid directly to the claimant. The DWP who pay DLA do not pay it to anyone else other than the claimant so the prospective tenant is either unaware of this or not telling you the whole story.

The chances are that the claimant may also be claiming housing benefit which can be paid direct to the Landlord but this benefit is capped if it is a private property landlord and not social housing.

I would suggest you ask them for copies of recent DWP benefit letters to prove that they are in receipt of the DLA and other benefits and proof of income etc. proof of identity, recent utility bills etc.

Unless they are willing to give this information freely I would be very wary of proceeding with the tenancy.

AHedgehogCanNeverBeBuggered · 14/09/2017 10:08

DLA doesn't pay rent, nor can it be paid to anyone other than the recipient or their designated carer. Do they mean housing benefit perhaps? I'd be concerned as to why it's being paid to you directly, as this would indicate previous issues over non-payment of rent, and if the tenants cancel the direct payments (which they're perfectly entitled to do) and opt to receive the money first themselves you could be up the proverbial creek.

There's also the fact that if your tenants are found to be fraudulently claiming the rent money will be recovered from you rather than them, as it will have been directly paid to you. You as the landlord are then expected to pursue the tenants for the money in court (which you will never see as they're unlikely to be able to afford to pay you back).

Personally I'd steer clear unless I could afford to not receive rent for several months.

ItsAllAboutThePace · 14/09/2017 10:08

No we wouldn't . It's still benefits,and as we've found out,sadly benefits often = trouble

Idontevencareanymore · 14/09/2017 10:09

As pp said DLA is a benefit to a person. That person may also get housing benefit which would be paid directly to you or to the person claiming.
Who's told you you'd be paid by them?

Also check your mortgage.

LetBartletBeBartlet · 14/09/2017 10:11

The responses here are so fucking depressing

Curious2468 · 14/09/2017 10:14

I have a friend desperately looking for a house and being turned down by everyone on the basis of disability and benefits being their only income. They are the nicest family and are being let down hugely by this kind of attitude :( personally I think it's discrimination and there should be laws against it.

ToastMarketingBoard · 14/09/2017 10:15

As pp said, DLA doesn't pay rent. I'd ask for more info. DLA on it's own isn't really an indicator- some DLA claimants work, and claimants with severe disabilities are often entitled to enough benefit to be equivalent to a low income worker- but if they are having their rent paid by housing benefit they may well be receiving an income-based primary benefit. It's worth noting that all DLA claimants will also be reassessed onto PIP so there will be changes coming up regardless. I wouldn't necessarily exclude the possibility but I'd want to know more.

Ttbb · 14/09/2017 10:15

My main concern would be a request for alterations. As pointed out above it would cost money to put them in and thecoulddevalue your house if you do not then spend even more money to put them right again. It is also harder to evict remnants with disabilities. Probably not worth the trouble unless you cannot rent otherwise or there is a big demand for DLA landlords in your area and you can charge a premium.

Branleuse · 14/09/2017 10:16

I think it would be pretty shitty to not allow someone because they had disability benefits

DressedCrab · 14/09/2017 10:16

As a LL I'd want some assurances that there would be no adaptions made to my property that may make it harder to let or sell down the line.

Other than that I'd have no problem in principle.

Polgaraisbloodylate · 14/09/2017 10:18

I appreciate that it depressing and probably extremely frustrating for people forced to rely on benefits.

However, if the mortgage company and/or the insurance company say no, there is literally nothing the landlord can do.

lougle · 14/09/2017 10:19

There is no problem with people who get DLA. It just means they have a verified disability. However, there is no mechanism by which they could have their rent paid directly by DLA to you. It is paid to the claimant. Furthermore, the highest rate care component is £420 every 4 weeks, and the highest rate mobility component is £232 every 4 weeks (although many people would trade that for a vehicle). Combined, that would total £652 every 4 weeks, or £702 per month. So it also may or may not cover the rent figure you are charging?

MrsSquiggler · 14/09/2017 10:19

The responses here are so fucking depressing

Yep. Whilst I can sort of understand why landlords have these blanket 'no benefits' policies if they have had bad experiences in the past, it means that anyone claiming housing benefit (including those who cannot work due to disability and illness) struggles to find housing at all. I am tempted to say the government should intervene and make it illegal to discriminate against those in receipt of benefits.

LouBlue1507 · 14/09/2017 10:20

disability and benefits being their only income

So when payments stop for X Y Z reasons, how will they pay the rent then? I know countless people who claims benefits and payments are never a reliable source of income. It's not a risk many LL can afford to take.

DressedCrab · 14/09/2017 10:21

I am tempted to say the government should intervene and make it illegal to discriminate against those in receipt of benefits.

How can that happen if insurance companies won't cover LLs? First thing would be legislation to stop insurance companies not offering insurance to properties with benefit claiming tenants.

Doggoslothlady · 14/09/2017 10:21

Agree with @MrsSquiggler . I am currently in s similar situation looking for somewhere to live.

Polgaraisbloodylate · 14/09/2017 10:21

MrsSquiggler,

The gov would need to start with the mortgage and insurance companies. I'd have no problem with benefits but my insurance company does.

Zebra31 · 14/09/2017 10:22

Your LL insurance company may insist that the tenant works part time at a minimum.

MrsSquiggler · 14/09/2017 10:22

Just to add, it is illegal to discriminate in housing on the basis on disability under the Equality Act.