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 :(

I think OP has flounced.

I do find this so hard I want to make with DD it is just us, she is disabled we are good people but we are on benefits because she has a life limiting disease and I’m her carer. We have no chance of moving so stuck in a ridiculously unsuitable flat.

Actually, was the payment not changed to tenants directly to avoid LL knowing they were DSS?? All part of Universal Credit?

I'm sure I recall that being the thought behind it, along with trying to empower the claimant to be financially responsible, giving them a bit of dignity in being able to pay their own rent.

Obviously in many cases this has backfired as some people just cannot handle finances and budgeting.

Private LL are businesses, like any business they have to avoid risk so they maximise profit. So many people think LL owe them a living, they're not charities.

I do agree with the suggestion that LL pass a knowledge test first in tenancy matters and understand their own legal obligations to tenants before they can be granted landlord registration.

The story about the heating breaking down for 3 weeks in the snow is disgusting and frankly inhumane and landlords like that should be struck off.

*wages stay low, not rent obviously

@ExFury

Housing is a basic need like education and health care and should not be left to the whims of private landlords

As I said already I don't think it's the fault of the landlords, but of government.

But really, it's a very warped state of affairs when trying to secure a stable place to live is so challenging, and for some people almost impossible - it's like housing has become a luxury. It's mad.

Mortgages need an overhaul, it should be illegal to refuse to rent to dss recipients. Simple as that.

Mortgages need an overhaul, it should be illegal to refuse to rent to dss recipients. Simple as that
If that was the case, I would sell my property and it definitely wouldn't be available for rental. Not sure how that would help those on benefits.

it should be illegal to refuse to rent to dss recipients. Simple as that

Wouldn't make any difference, LLs would just sell or pick the tennant in work and not claiming. A simple financial check and employer reference would show if they were covering the rent themselves.

It makes no difference to me if you were once a tenant 'so you know what its like'. No. You absolutely don't. Renting whilst you look for a property is nothing like renting when you are on benefits. It is worlds apart.

You have no idea what anyone's circumstances were.

I didn't rent while I looked for a property - I've never bought a property to live in in my life. I rented when I was shafted by my ex and left with 6 month old twins, one with poor health. Three shit landlords later and the 3 of us moved in with my Nana when my grandad died (my grandparents brought me up). The only reason it didn't go on care home fees is because she died less than a month after going in there.

So yes, I do know what it is like to rent.

You are judging people in the same way those who have a blanket ban for no reason are.

One of the best ways to sort the issue of shit ll's out is to build more social housing.

Where I live there has been a big building programme by a good housing association. The bundle of housing becoming available has helped people off waiting lists, but has also added a large amount of affordable properties into the area. That means the ll's who rip the piss with what they charge have been forced to lower their rents to stay competative which benefits people who didn't get one of the new builds.

It's a difficult one and I'm not sure the blame lies with any one section tbh. There are crap tenants, that happen to be on DSS and therefore because the landlord loses out, they do not want benefits tenants again. Understand that.
There are also good tenants in DSS who struggle to find anywhere.
There are also awful tenants that aren't DSS that don't pay or trash the place.
There are people (like me) with rubbish credit history, but never missed a rental payment.
I don't think there should be a blanket no DSS rule, mainly because of the sheer amount of people it excludes, and a lot will be working, never missed a rental payment or caused problems, but excluded anyway.
I think a sort of rent CV, could work. Each LL is listed, time in house, reason for leaving etc and then you have your references. It could be an official document that your LL signs when you hand the keys back to say you paid the rent and you left the place in a decent state - because really that's all they need to know, that you pay your rent and don't trash the place.
Another big issue as far as I can see is that LL not willing to, or financially can't, wait weeks and weeks for benefits to get sorted, and can't afford the lack of rent when things mess up and payments stop for no apparent reason. And on top of this, is the fact that LL's are forced to legally evict people - costing them time and money, if they need the property back. If the tenant cannot find somewhere within the notice period and turn to the council, the council tell you to stay put until you're removed by bailiffs, only then will you be considered for emergency accomodation. The thought of having to do that is enough to put a LL off, and why wouldn't it in reality?
It's enough to put me off renting however I don't have a choice, because I cannot get access to a mortgage. And I need somewhere to live.
I'm in a HA property now, because of mainly, the security. Moving 8 times in 15 years was soul destroying. With the exception of one, all the landlords were good, and we left on good terms.
We need more social housing.

I've seen it from a few sides. I used to do contract cleaning for a social housing letting agency. They'd offer private lets to people who couldn't afford or couldn't get housed via a standard letting agents.
I did indeed see some awfully trashed places post eviction. However these landlords would get it cleaned and let them out again to new tenants.
I can understand why some would be reticent to let to the unemploymed. These people who trashed the place and left rent arrears simply didn't care or more than likely couldn't cope with the responsibility of a tenancy. They didn't care because with children they would just go through the system and be housed again as there is a duty of care if you have a young family.
What I did notice was that these properties whilst legal and safe were pretty shitty. No one would have wanted them on the open market so landlords were, in my opinion getting away with letting substandard accommodation.
However as has been pointed out MOST benefits claimants are in work and female.
These people are desperate to keep a roof over their heads and with a wage coming in plus benefits can easily afford it. Its tight if you get your benefits suspended but you can usually scrimp through whilst recalculations are made (I'm talking pre universal credit ) so while I can sort of understand why some benefits claimants may have a bad rap I really cannot see why the majority of benefit claimants have a blanket ban on being eligible for a property. Its definitely discriminatory.
I fall into the latter category. I don't claim HB anymore despite being eligible for a small amount. It is a nightmare and I'd rather go without than have to deal with all the red tape. I can afford to do so though. Most aren't so lucky.

The council is to blame, they should be buying properties and using them for social housing. You can't expect landlords to accept people just because they are having a bad time. Private landlords aren't responsible for housing your friends. There is no need to get angry at us.

@placemats me too!

I have memories dating back to the very early 1970's and sharing a large Victorian house with 4 other families. We all shared a cooker on
the top landing and there was one toilet. Let's exchange stories and memories. I remember when my mum had to go to A&E in 1976 because her fingers were so cut & bleeding from all the cleaning she did she was unable to use her right hand, had it stitched and bandaged and I had to make the pack lunches that night for me and my siblings for the following day. Also remember that time when your mums
accent was mocked because she pronounced things differently.

Remember when our dad's had to seal the letter box so people couldn't put petrol bombs through it on NYE 1980.

Your right, the OP's post is very similar.

I was in primary school in the early 70s.

DSS tenants are less likely to look after the property than people who work for their rent.

@placemats so was I.

Pls do share your no blacks, no dogs, no Irish memories and experiences with us seen as you brought it up. I personally think it's very important that our memories and experiences are documented. If anything else to make sure people are never treated in this way again. It's important future generations know our experiences. We also have a duty to protect children in the future from such experiences.

I just don't think the system we have now with large numbers of properties owned by private landlords is working for the most vulnerable in society

How much of this problem (people on benefits finding it difficult/impossible to find private rental properties) is due to the council house sell-off that was one of Thatcher’s proudest achievements? The theory was that the councils would build more housing, to replace the properties they sold off, so everyone would benefit - but statistics show that only a fraction of the properties that were sold off have actually been replaced.

When I was young, council housing was there to provide secure tenancies to vulnerable people eg.people with disabilities, those on low incomes, pensions or benefits etc - now the private sector is having to meet a lot more of that demand, and I don’t think that is fair either for those needing housing (or for landlords who have bad experiences with tenants on benefits).

The last DSS tenant I had left me with £3000 arrears and a load of rubbish furniture that I had to get rid of. I needed specialist cleaners in to make it habitable. I sold the flat.

I'm a LL and the terms of my BTL won't allow me to accept DSS.

I think sadly a few bad apples rot the whole barrel. I have been on benefits for most of my adult life due to complex mental health problems. I have never missed a rent payment or trashed the place.

however, people who have proceed before me ruin it.

I am lucky enough now to have a HA flat in a reasonable area so have a bit more security

Right to buy was originally a Labour initiative.