Is it because I'm a single parent?

[SirScallyWagsWife]

I've been looking for a place to rent for me and my two DC for months. I apply and then get rejected, I have a job, I can pay 6 months up front if needed. I can very easily afford the properties that I'm looking at so I know they're not out of my budget.

I just don't know what I'm doing wrong and beginning to think it's because I'm a single parent!

If they're are any landlords out there do you pick the two parent family's before any others?

Tia

Ps op absolutely not calling you a scrounger.

There is a systemic problem in uk with shortage of properties which means inevitably higher income people stand a better chance of getting a rental property.

Where abouts are you, OP? I have been discriminated against for being a single parent several times when looking for a rental property. Always male landlords - twice asked directly;
'How are you going to pay your rent if you've only got one income'
'Errr, managed to pay on time for the last 7 years? 🤨'
Recently really tough to find somewhere.
Do you have Openrent in your area?
I've found that landladies have been less weird about renting to single mums & I never tell them I'm entitled to some housing benefit because why do they need to know?
Good luck.

@thebiggestloserinthenorth

They need to know because it can affect their mortgage terms and their insurance premiums. You openly admit that you will lie to landlords causing them potential problems, and then you wonder why landlords are reluctant to rent to single parents. People lying to landlords along with the lack of protection from the law when tenants screw over landlords is exactly why single parents and people on us find themselves in this position.

OP, you are not being penalised, no one is out to punish you, it really is just a case of who looks like the most attractive tenant that on paper, is least likely to cause issues. It’s not personal.

@NailsNeedDoing I've never been asked, so no I haven't 'openly lied'.
I would imagine the landlords I've had are aware that if someone is on a sole income & a single parent they are eligible for some housing benefit.
As long as the rent is paid (which it is) then there's never been a problem.

What, you've never been asked to show how you will pay your rent before taking on a tenancy?

That’s very unusual because most landlords and agents will ask, that’s why the OPs problem is so common.

The problem will more than likely be the universal credit. Some mortgages for rental property will not allow the landlord to rent to anyone on benefits. Mine wouldn't when I let out my property briefly.

@NailsNeedDoing Yep, I have been asked for proof of employment, references from previous landlords, never the direct question of 'are you in receipt of any benefits' and if I was asked, I would say yes.

Could it be the rental market? Me and DP had rented for ages, decent jobs and still lost out on a few properties - loads of applications submitted for each. If there are many applicants not a question of rejecting you but other others are more attractive.
Agree with personal letter/estate agent. Also pre-send reference from previous LL maybe? If they’re willing to vouch for you. It’s shit but hang in there!

Also to add the one we eventually got had been on market for months. Priced slightly too high but we had nowhere else to go… it maybe be a question of budget

Can you put a request out for private landlords on Facebook or try gumtree again? Unfortunately it’s the huge demand for properties atm which means the landlords can choose whoever they want for their property.
We let property and many of our tenants over the years have been single mums with children. When children are settled in a local school, they tend to want to stay for a few years. The most recent family we rent to are reliant solely on benefits as the children have additional needs.( she wants the house indefinitely)

Many landlords don't want UC as they aren't registered for tax purposes and HMRC could potentially be on to them.

I know a couple who work full-time, no kids, no benefits who've been trying to get a 2+ bed to rent. They've finally managed to get somewhere after 5 months. I think it's just such high demand at the moment. To be on the safe side don't declare the UC.

There's really high demand atm. I've had 18 people contact me because they know my tenant is moving - it's not even advertised anywhere (and nor will it be).

UC can be a problem depending on the insurance landlords have. It's also a problem for some landlords as they don't always understand the benefits system and think it's much less secure than working people (which is very certainly not always the case!).

Hopefully you can find some LL's that deal with their properties themselves - agents are much more one track minded when it comes to things like UC.

Try looking on open rent website, it's a way for landlords to advertise without going through agents, and landlords are way less discriminatory than agents

Just a note to advise against lying.

Most landlords aren’t refusing because of some sort of “scrounger” belief; it’s because the terms of their mortgage literally forbids renting to anyone on benefits.

If they find out you lied they’ll have no choice but to evict you and then you’ll have an eviction on your record and you’ll find it even harder to rent.

I agree, it’s terrible and makes no sense; but blame the idiots who made it illegal for landlords to discriminate but made it perfectly acceptable for mortgage companies to do so.

It’ll be the UC probably, rather than the single mother status, which isn’t fair either. My sympathies OP, I struggled too a few years ago in a similar situation. I hope you find somewhere soon.

Seems ridiculous, rent is so high I’m surprised 2 people can pay some of them so how is one supposed to on one salary? This is how I ended up homeless in temporary accommodation for 3 years. Still waiting on a home. I’ve never missed a rent payment, credit is fine I earn well but could not get anywhere that didn’t require some help with the rent. You can’t go smaller as you’re then over crowded it’s just rubbish as what are you meant to do. I’ve always prioritised my essential bills never missed anything. We are quiet and look after homes. Have good referees from previous landlords.
Op I hope you find somewhere, people who say you can’t manage without a top up likely wouldn’t manage on their own either. I work part time becuase I have a son with Sen and ex who works shifts so can’t use regular childcare.

@Zombiemum1946

I know a couple who work full-time, no kids, no benefits who've been trying to get a 2+ bed to rent. They've finally managed to get somewhere after 5 months. I think it's just such high demand at the moment. To be on the safe side don't declare the UC.

Sounds like us. We’re in a bigger house now because we couldn’t find any in the size we wanted. It was either that or move out into temp accommodation which given covid was also very hard to find!

Don’t tell them about UC?

This is awful and absurd.
My STBExH is a gambling addict and an alcoholic. When he lived with me he lost money in sickeningly large chunks at random intervals, he caused a lot of low to medium level damage to places we lived and he fell out with the landlord every now and again . He had to declare his credit history which was very, very bad and his references weren't too much better but we never had any problems getting a place. Have the banks and government actually engineered a situation where my family then is more attractive to landlords than now? I feel a bit sick thinking about how many women will be trapped by this.

Sorry cos not relevant to poster's situation but posting cos had people and councils and even a domestic abuse organisation gaslighting me pretending I was mad, was just excuse when I said I couldn't just leave. They pretend I was mad to say private landlords don't take people on benefits.

Am disabled partly due to domestic violence injuries. On disability benefits. Landlords don't take you even if you can pay upfront. Only ones are slum ones sometimes illegal like serious disrepair or in the most dangerous areas with very high violent crime. Council housing department said just find somewhere private and the same with social services adult social care when I was referred. Law breaking cos they meant to House if domestic violence but they break the law and get away with it when you don't have an advocate. Most domestic abuse organisations so good but postcode lottery and some very bad and don't help. Not all councils break law but postcode lottery.

Am sorry cos derail maybe. Just so upset when people were accusing me of not wanting to leave. Women can't leave even if risk of being killed if nowhere safe to go. Private landlords so many don't take people on benefits.

If I was in your situation don't tell them about the benefits cos having a home is more important than almost anything.

because the terms of their mortgage literally forbids renting to anyone on benefits.

Think they breaking law cos was people on here saying other threads that Shelter did a case and it was discrimination against women and mortgage places and banks breaking law if discriminate for benefits. Feel they're abusers sort of if they doing these clauses.

Is abusive to people on benefits cos we not scum and we just bad luck in life and need safe home. Feel like even if they not abusers themselves, they helping abusers to continue to abuse.

@MissyMooKins

It will be that you receive UC. I'd rather rent to a working couple. Seems more stable.

Really? So one of both of those are at less risk of losing their job?

Less risk of sickness meaning the are signed off long term and have SSP?

Technically someone already receiving a UC top up is actually more of a safe bet. If anything happened to their income they'd automatically have it increased to make up the difference and to cover rent.

Personally o don't believe the "no benefits" etc was ever about it being benefits but more to do with the incorrect assumption that they are some kind of lower class of tenant who are more likely to be a nuisance.