To say about bloody time? No DSS landlords breaking the law.

[Whatisthisfuckery]

A judge has ruled that landlords and letting agents refusing to let to people on housing benefit is unlawful.

It’s about bloody time it was made clear that it is not acceptable to discriminate against people who are on benefits. Housing is not just a privilege for those who are employed and able to work.

Obviously this clarification in the court will not solve the housing crisis, for people on low incomes especially, and much more needs to be done to make sure people have access to benefits without lengthy waits that then create rent arrears etc, but it’s a step in the wright direction.

www.bbc.com/news/education-53391516

@lakesidesummer you summed it up perfectly, me and my partner pay so much rent when we would absolutely love to get a mortgage - we can obviously afford more than the mortgage repayments would cost, have never missed a rent payment or been late with one and yet we are not able to get a mortgage (or at least not a big enough mortgage to buy a property where we need to be). It is not as easy as simply saying 'get a mortgage then'. I am fortunate enough to have never been on DSS - but god forbid anything were to happen and I did find myself in that position I know I would likely find myself and my young children homeless because of the lack of housing available to people on benefits.

@Soubriquet, I think your idea is good in principle, but in practice it would be very unfair on people who may be renting out a property that is mortgage free, or where they bought it years ago when the house was worth a lot less, or who only took out a small mortgage because they'd come into some money.

It would be fairer to link maximum rents to the capital value of the property imo.

Housing is an essential so no landlords absolutely should not be able to pick and choose who they do business with.

I will still select very carefully who I rent to. I don’t use an agent and set my own criteria, that won’t change!
I’ll be interested to see if my insurance does though.

Either way I have the right to choose who rents my home and will continue to exclude benefits if I wish-I just won’t give that as a reason. It won’t make any difference!

Alsohuman

dontdisturbmenow
Not everybody on HB is able to work
That's why they should have priority on council homes.
What council houses? They were sold off by Thatcher.

Haha, I used to live in one, or half of what used to be one, rented out by my private landlord. An absolute shortage of council housing everywhere I’ve lived.

I think there needs to be changes both ways. Yes absolutely no dss should be got rid of BUT landlords should have more control on evicting people for trashing the place or non payment of rent. It ridiculous that a tenant can not pay rent for a year and cant leave (not wont because if they do they will of made themselves intentionally homeless and the council wont house them) until a landlord gets bailiffs involved.
I can completely understand why landlords dont want to rent to dss for these reasons so surely a change needs to come where people can have secure long term tendency but non payment of rent should be out within a few weeks. Obviously the way uc works that wouldn't be possible but it's only way it levels the playing people for everyone.

I agree its a step in the right direction completely but unfortunately unless mortgage providers and some insurance providers change their policies too, I don't think it's going to be reflected as a massive change in the rental market.

I’m a bit cynical. They will just change the income requirements to be just above what you can get on benefits. It will indirectly discriminate.

hi

So a landlord can not choose who they wish to do business with? Who they entrust their expensive assets in the care of?

No, you can’t discriminate against vulnerable sections of society @bonjonbovi

You can always sell if you don’t like it.

i stayed in lots of bedsits and flats and most landlords were happy to rent to me as the money got paid directly to them, the last furnished flat i had was under a compulsory purchase order and the landlord gave me all the furniture and money to help me in my new home when i got a HA flat, the landlords are more likely to get the rent if you are on benefits as it can be paid directly to them

if my insurers accept the tenants, works for me. As rental laws allow people to move in and pay nothing more until eviction, which could be a year away, insurance is essential.

relating rent to mortgage and limiting rent accordingly - wow, someone has no idea about business risk. stick to flogging mlm stink or slap, and getting hubby to pay the bills, eh?

@ComDummings

Housing is an essential so no landlords absolutely should not be able to pick and choose who they do business with.

Housing is an essential, but it's not my responsibility to house strangers. Why shouldn't I choose who lives in my house? Why should I be forced to take more risk with my asset than I'm happy with?

It just shows how little some renters are aware of the costs to a LL eg. not just mortgage, insurance, repairs, tax, agents, now all credit checks etc which the LL now pays rather than tenant.

If they went back to the council paying HB etc direct to the landlords you may find some people would be more willing to look at renting to people on benefits.

It can't be linked to what a mortgage it. If that were the case all LLs would just get the maximum mortgage they can and take all their equity out as cash!

There are still mortgages that preclude renting to DSS and there are definitely insurers that will not allow it or up their premiums so much that the expense pushes the rent up.

*Housing is an essential so no landlords absolutely should not be able to pick and choose who they do business with"
In that case, there should be no tax attached to letting and the gov should automatically pay when tenants don't.

Oh wait, that could never happen. Well neither will LL accept to have no control over their business when they have the potential to be severely affected financially, which could very well result in them becoming homeless.

Unfortunately this is the situation we are all in. More and more housing is in fewer hands and more and more working people are having to rely on benefits to have a living wage. Something has to give.

And realistically how many non smoking, childless, pet less professional working couples are there? At some point lenders, banks and landlords have to rent to people. Yes, even the working poor or single parents on benefits. Housing is essential and it's all very well complaining about tenants waiting to be evicted but what other choice is there really? Blame the government rules, blame companies for not paying a living wage, blame lack of social housing if you want but it is what it is. If you have more than one home you are extremely lucky, if you can't afford to maintain them then sell.

I am afraid the housing crisis is only going to get worse as the full impact of coronavirus and brexit hits the economy and more people are out of work.

I am afraid I have very little sympathy for landlords who complain that they are not rich/barely make ends meet etc whilst the own more than one house. Especially when the large majority of people don't own their own home and are not likely too. You might not FEEL wealthy, but you are. If you can't afford it then sell, it's not a right to be a landlord.

Rental controls need to come in and we need to end this trend of accidental landlords. I currently live in a country with rental controls, strong tenants rights and controls of landlords powers. It's been a game changer. Seriously. I wish it could be brought to the UK. People deserve stability and peace of mind.

renting property is a business, not a public service. risk, return, etc. and profit. bit hard for some on here.

rent controls - check your history for why that didnt work. again, bit hard for MN.

Housing is an essential so no landlords absolutely should not be able to pick and choose who they do business with.

Try telling this to banks who provide mortgages and see how far you get.

I think it is fantastic and well overdue. I am a teacher and a single parent. I have rented for 20 years and been on benefits at points . I have paid over £80,000 to landlords. Renters are humans and the majority are very decent and very reliable. Pets should also be allowed all of it is discriminatory. Landlords should not have the right to charge ridiculous rents and dictate how people should live.

So are they going to make it easier to evict tenants thousands of pounds in rent arrears?
Will they make it so LL can demand direct payment from HB?

Until then I would not rent to anyone receiving HB. It's not that hard to sort through.

So are they going to make it easier to evict tenants thousands of pounds in rent arrears?
Will they make it so LL can demand direct payment from HB?

Until then I would not rent to anyone receiving HB. It's not that hard to sort through.

@AskingforaBaskin

So are they going to make it easier to evict tenants thousands of pounds in rent arrears? Will they make it so LL can demand direct payment from HB?

Until then I would not rent to anyone receiving HB. It's not that hard to sort through.

Of course they’re not. They’re just going to expect private landlords to deal with the hassle, stress, inconvenience and high chance of damage and little to no payment instead of dealing with it themselves like they should.

Not all benefit recipients are like this obviously, but it remains that private landlords should not have to put their properties in jeopardy.

Sorry but landlords should never have been so entitled as to control housing stock in this way. If they cannot deal with the fear or risk they should not be allowed to be landlords in the first place. After all Landlord's insurance does exist now.

Ah there we go. 'The fear and the risk' and what do we do with risk? Asses it and mitigate it.