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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

655 replies

7hup · 22/01/2019 16:23

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 :(

OP posts:
swingofthings · 22/01/2019 17:16

Its so unfair when no-one is willing to give people a chance
People do give chances and thrn get treated like dirt. I had two very bad experiences renting to families on benefits. The first one did pay but trashed the place. The second family stopped paying, reported me for supposed lack of sorting put mould causing their son asthma - which was confirmed to have been caused by condensation as thry were drying clothes on radiators -, finally left, trashed the place and caused over £5,000. The financial cost is bad enough but nothing compared to the emotional stress knowing that one little thing done outside of the - very complex- law and you're done.

I am not an ellitist c*, I was a single mum who never stopped working FT, starting at just above minimum wage and risingover the years so I could afford a property.

I learned my lesson, renting is a business. Tenants expect, rightly so, to be treated like customers, I now run my property as a business and pick my clients for limited grief, nothing more.

Floandme · 22/01/2019 17:16

@Perfectly1mperfect, see my comment above. It didn't work. LLs were getting overpayments clawed back. They couldn't discuss claims with the council. Tenants didn't know what was going on. It was a mess.

Plabom · 22/01/2019 17:17

Seline in that case, you were treated very unfairly indeed by the LA, FFS you even had a guarantor. Usually that's a golden ticket. The system definitely isn't perfect.

I advertise on OpenRent, lots of private landlords advertising there :)

Megan2018 · 22/01/2019 17:17

I am a landlord, I don’t accept benefits.
My landlord insurance prevents it, but even if it didn’t -I wouldn’t. My property, my choice who rents it.
I look after my property and tenants brilliantly but in return am uber fussy, I do extensive credit and reference checking and meet all potential tenants. I no longer use an agent as my last one failed to be diligent and I ended up with a fraudster using a false name who failed to pay rent.

I have been a tenant myself recently (DH and I rented for 2 years when relocating area) so appreciate the tenants view. We had to find a landlord willing to accept 3 cats and hens. That was hard!

It is infair, but life is unfair.

Drookit · 22/01/2019 17:17

I just had a google and found Open Rent which seems to be a site for landlords and tenants.

Missingstreetlife · 22/01/2019 17:18

Whole housing situation, policy etc is a disgrace and a scandal.

TheBigBangRocks · 22/01/2019 17:18

If housing benefit was paid directly to the landlord I bet more would be willing to have them

Not necessarily. Chances on there would still be more wear and tear as the tennant would be home more. The council advise them to stay put of a LL issues notice so court costs can be hefty, if someone else Is paying is there still the same sense of responsibility etc. Plus is they claim incorrect then who is responsible for paying back the council?

Floandme · 22/01/2019 17:19

It is unfair, but life is unfair

Is that on some kind of bumper sticker they give LL's or something?

HelenaDove · 22/01/2019 17:19

@DonCorleoneTheThird

Is that because you " never had the luxury of reduced rents with all the trimmings"

Your words from another thread.

immortalmarble · 22/01/2019 17:19

This system is crazy. I don’t know what people on benefits are expected to do but the OP is not unreasonable in identifying that it’s a huge problem.

SillySallySingsSongs · 22/01/2019 17:20

After their last comment I doubt OP will be back folks

gamerwidow · 22/01/2019 17:20

It was a mistake to stop HB bring paid direct to LL. it used to be their income was guaranteed if you were HB now it’s too much of a gamble for them.
It is ridiculous situation the incomes levels you need to be able to rent are just not possible for most people’s

Seline · 22/01/2019 17:20

Everyone who's had a twatty tennant on benefits, why are you assuming that's because they're on benefits?

You wouldn't, I hope, refuse to rent to a black person because one black guy trashed your house, or a woman because one woman didn't pay. Crap tenants exist everywhere. So why judge everyone on benefits?

If two private tenants trashed your house, would you refuse to rent to anyone who wasnt on benefits again just in case? If your answer is no you need to think about your preformed opinions of those claiming DDS.

user1471590586 · 22/01/2019 17:20

Looks like the system is about to change w8th universal credit going directly to landlords. www.simplelandlordsinsurance.com/landlord-hub/news/universal-credit-reform
Maybe that will give landlords more confidence in renting to HB claimants.

Floandme · 22/01/2019 17:21

A section 21 to seize possession with no reason is £355 I think. Hardly a massive burden.

I'm not getting out my violin for LL's anytime soon

showmeshoyu · 22/01/2019 17:21

Didn't it used to be like this ? Why did it change ?

To give the person on benefits the dignity of managing their own money... That worked well. The figures showed pretty much immediately afterwards that the entire system spontaneously combusted as people stopped bothering to pay their landlords.

Perfectly1mperfect · 22/01/2019 17:21

Floandme

Thanks. Sorry I must have missed that you answered earlier. I thought there must have been issues with paying direct to LL because it was changed.

Maelstrop · 22/01/2019 17:22

It used to be that the ll was paid direct but now the tenant has the money, I think, so the ll needs to rely on them to pay. As a pp said, my insurance doesn’t allow for housing benefit, nor does my AST.

Seline · 22/01/2019 17:22

Thanks Plabom!

Yes we were very confused by the refusal of the guarantor. Part of me suspects prejudice as I look a lot younger than I am (I look about 17) and often get patronized until people realise I'm not a child.

RiaParkinson71 · 22/01/2019 17:23

@7hup whoa. Unnecessary!

Firstly, it is very sad the position your friend has found herself in and I wish her a speedy recovery.

It's not MN fault that insurance /mortgage companies place restrictions on the cover/offers they provide. PP were just trying to explain why landlords have the criteria they do.

This is ultimately a social issue in that not enough social housing/council housing been built. This needs addressing absolutely as do mental health support services. Both areas in need of overhaul and urgent investment.

I do understand you are protective of your friend but channeling frustration here is not the way to deal with it.

Is it possible your friend could stay with you for a while until she feels a little stronger or any family around to help her at this time?

Also, not sure of your DSis current predicament but where was she living before she had her DC? Not quite clear in why she is back with your mum? If she was living in rented accommodation then why was she not allowed to stay upon the birth of her DC? Many people rent and have children and stay in their accommodation. It's difficult for us to give a full and balanced reply without all the facts?

I can see you are frustrated Op but we all have an element of personal responsibility to provide for our selves. That is not always possible. I do accept that. But equally unfair to vent at MNetters when we are trying to advise why some things are not possible.

CallMeRachel · 22/01/2019 17:23

*Do you honestly think it's perfectly ok for an adult to have to live in a B&B for several years? With no cooking facilities or means to do laundry?

We are a rich country, this should not be an acceptable standard. ALL people should be able to have a safe and reasonably adequate home with facilities to live normally - cook food, wash clothes.*

Several years? I've no idea where that got thrown in from...my post said nothing wrong with a B&B for now.

She's a 36 year old adult, fallen on hard times with MH yes but when will people realise they need to make provisions for their own living arrangements?

The government will support people up to a point, but beyond what is basic and adequate I don't see what else can be offered? B&B rentals cost a fortune for Councils. It's designed as a temporary measure to meet an immediate need.

Nomorepies · 22/01/2019 17:23

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on the poster's request.

Floandme · 22/01/2019 17:23

A yes there was outcry when a landlord refused to rent to Indians because they cook too much curry and make the house smell

Perfectly ok to penalise predominantly women with children though

ilmmaiss · 22/01/2019 17:24

For every landlord that's had twatty benefit- claiming tenants, there are tenants who've had multiple twatty landlords and paid extortionate amounts for sub-standard living. But there's no rules on good or bad landlords, just on decent people who might be having to temporarily claim DSS. It's unfair, but only for one side apparently

hendricksy · 22/01/2019 17:24

It's not more secure because the money goes via the tenant and is often spent before the owner gets it .
We have a flat we rent out and had one council tenant ( he managed to con us that he wants to get in ) and trashed the place , complained about everything and left with rent owing and all his bloody furniture which we had to get rid of 🙄...
Unfortunately people like that spoil it for others ...
I think we ought to start at the top of the council tree and get people who don't need council houses anymore into private rent or on the property ladder .