To think it's disgusting the amount of landlords who won't accept DSS?

[7hup]

My friend is 36 and just been kicked out by her boyfriend because she had a mental breakdown and multiple suicide attempts .

She's just been released from hospital and has been given a B&B room as temporary accommodation.

She has to claim universal credit as she is in no fit state to work.

Council said if she can find private housing they will cover her first month's rent/deposit/fees.

No where takes housing benefit.

It's unfair.

There's no council accommodation and no private landlords will accept it.

She's 36. No children. No pets. Doesn't drink. Doesn't smoke. Is quiet and polite. Keeps to herself. Clean and tidy. She just needs a home :(

Its working people too. My Dsis has a kid and can't move out of my mums because she works only 16 hours because of her son so would receive housing benefit. So she can't move either.

Even on Spareroom. Co. UK in our area there are 674 rooms.

ONE takes DSS. And is dou le the price of similar rooms

It's so unfair :(

My insurance won't cover tenants that aren't fully employed, or whose income is % mostly benefits, so it's not always the Landlord's choice.

Unfortunately the few have made it impossible for the many. Historically DSS have been nightmare tenants so people don't take them anymore. Programmes like benefit street etc haven't helped the cause either. It is a shame for genuinely decent people on DSS who have no choice as no council properties but unfortunately for a long time people will be wary to rent to the types of people they assume come under the DSS banner. It is a shame but what can you do?

The issue is lack of council housing due to right to buy and that they cannot force people to downsize or move on when they can afford to. Anyway that's another whole topic.

It’s not disgusting, it’s just a reality of life. Sad for those on benefits yes, but landlords shouldn’t have to put themselves at risk by taking on people whose money isn’t as secure as if they were earning it themselves.

It’s usually down to insurance companies rather than the landlord, a friend is having the same trouble, she is disabled and her husband a carer, her daughter is also disabled with the same condition, they are really struggling.

It's a horrible situation for people, but while you say it's unfair to tenants, it's also unfair to landlords when tenants don't pay their rent because they haven't had enough housing benefit, or they spend it on other things, or it turns out that they weren't entitled to claim.

Landlords aren't to blame here, it's the fault of other tenants that have not paid their rent properly. If HB claimants weren't statistically more likely to default on payment or leave damage to the property, then mortgage and insurance providers wouldn't need to be so cautious with them.

But isn't it more secure in a way as they are getting paid by the local council?

I'm just so sad for her. I literally can't find a single advert that doesn't say NO DSS

It isn't disgusting. It's a shame for your friend but landlords should be able to decide what they do with a property they own and how they do it. It's nobody else's business.

Yes but that isn't Benefit recipients fault either. It's the government's for making it so hard with UC to have a steady amount coming in

@Villanellesproudmum your friend being disabled and having her DH as her carer would definitely put them in a different bracket insurance wise than 'standard' benefit claimants. That seems unfair they are struggling - are they privately renting at the moment?

If they have a clean credit history, (no CCJs/Bankrupcy) and good references then that should be enough to help secure a private rental.

Most landlords seem to have had themselves or know someone else who'd had at least one bad experience with people on benefits not paying their rent, not looking after/vandalising the property and having to deal with eviction.

Hopefully she will be able to recover and find work.

The whole market is fucked.

People who the banks won't lend to paying higher than mortgage rent to landlords who can't afford to buy property and so took out a mortgage themselves.

It's incredibly unfair and shouldn't be allowed. Renting should be a primarily public owned sector.

But isn't it more secure in a way as they are getting paid by the local council?

It doesn't work like that anymore; housing benefit is now paid to the recipient and not the landlord in the majority of cases. The landlord relies on the recipient then paying the rent weekly/monthly.

Wow that escalated quickly

@7hup I would but i'm not allowed too. My mortgage company don't allow me to, nothing i can do about it

Goodness, you’re a treat

Why don't you give your friend a room in your house?

It’s not disgusting, it’s just a reality of life. Sad for those on benefits yes, but landlords shouldn’t have to put themselves at risk by taking on people whose money isn’t as secure as if they were earning it themselves.

How? Someone could lose their job next week it's hardly a lifetime assurance.

OP: AIBU?

Responses: Yes, YABU.

OP: You're all cunts.

YANBU and there's nowhere near enough social housing for the need. Universal credit could have been designed so that landlords don't lose out, but it hasn't been so the situation is getting worse not better.

Have you applied? Both my rental said no DSS but they were fine when I talked to them. ImE they prefer you working though even if it's part time but I appreciate that's probably not possible for your friend right now.

Many mortgage and insurance companies make the decision. Also, some letting agencies will only work with private tenants.

@Plabom they don’t have a great credit history, however the estate agent is behind them who they have rented via for the past 7 years and trying their best. Their current private landlord is selling up. The council can’t find them a property, my friend needs a wheelchair and she is too young for a bungalow (40) so they won’t consider a house or flat for her, they have two children, it’s all a mess.

Your last message is unfair.

Often it's mortgage and insurance that don't allow benefits.