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Original poster

BTL - tenants with housing benefits

40 replies

Maggiethecat · 15/02/2022 12:28

I've never considered tenants with HB before now and wonder if anyone can share their experiences.

It's a family with 3 teenage kids, parents work but income is supplemented with HB.

There are some horror stories around but it would be good to have some balance as I expect that it's not all like that.

Are there any extra steps above the usual referencing that you take when doing your diligence?

OP posts:
Asdf12345 · 18/02/2022 16:39

Dishonesty over both income and pets, run a mile.

danni0509 · 18/02/2022 16:39

@Maggiethecat

Have today had referencing check back and husband and wife have both been unsuccessful.

Wife, despite telling me she has income from courier work, has told ref company that she is her son’s full time carer (she told me son is 16 with mild autism).

They are not being upfront and may be gaming the system but either way it does make me uncomfortable.

On one hand I feel that they could be perfectly good tenants who are having a rough time and struggle to jump through the hoops. On other hand they could be a complete nightmare.

FWIW, had a FaceTime call with them and their flat was very tidy/organised and they looked like any other family.

BUT, in their application they said they had no pets but on the call I saw they have a small dog.
When asked about it, she said it was very well trained 🤔

All things put together it is becoming difficult to trust them and I’m thinking I’ll have to put head over heart for this one.

There’s not such things as mild autism by the way.

I have a ds with autism and would not be able to work again, not until he’s an adult at least and even then I’m not quite sure how that would work. I’ll think about that when it comes to it. So yes I am a full time carer, my dh works full time.

We rent privately. Not polishing my own halo but you don’t get better tenants than us. House is immaculate, rent is paid on time and always has been. We pay for repairs ourself, have decorated and had new carpets at our own cost. It’s a new build we rent and 8 years later it still looks like a new build. Next door who owns, isn’t as well maintained.

She may say she is doing ‘some’ work to avoid the judgment / stigma, I don’t think people realise how hard you work when you’re caring for kids with disabilities!

No idea what you should do, but I wouldn’t let that part alone put you off.

danni0509 · 18/02/2022 16:40

There’s no such thing* ^

Original poster
Maggiethecat · 18/02/2022 19:26

@ThreeFeetTall

"They looked like any other family" ShockConfused
That was said from the perspective that often there is a very negative picture painted about tenants on HB that it would be easy to think that many are not hard working, take care of their homes, lead everyday normal lives.
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Original poster
Maggiethecat · 18/02/2022 19:35

@SheldontheWonderSchlong
"I know, right.
You mean they weren't wearing their 'housing benefit scumbags' t shirts? Quick, alert the authorities.
What a depressing thread."

What is actually depressing is that I really wanted this family to have the house - based on info given - working parents but need a bit of social welfare help, kids who would probably enjoy the space of the house/garden etc. But it turns out that they have been dishonest on a number of levels.

I would have had a totally different view if they'd have been upfront.

OP posts:
Original poster
Maggiethecat · 18/02/2022 19:43

@danni0509 - problem is that my insurer requires that tenant works at least 16 hours per week. I told the mum this and she assured me that she satisfies this.

The referencing was carried out after this conversation so to inform the ref company that she has no income and is a full time carer makes me wonder which assertion she intends to back pedal from?

OP posts:
danni0509 · 18/02/2022 19:44

@Maggiethecat does her husband not work? Does your insurance require both to work?

Original poster
Maggiethecat · 18/02/2022 19:49

@danni0509 - they say husband is self employed but he has not been able to provide tax returns.

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liveforsummer · 18/02/2022 19:55

I'm not sure why a pp would think someone with an HB top up would need extra inspections?! I find that offensive. As someone who was on full benefits when I moved in to my rented accommodation although still had to pay a good chunk as maximum hb didn't cover, it didn't for any private rents, to now when I'm working 6 days a week in 2 jobs but still get a tiny top up. The house was better when I was on full benefits as I had the time where as now it's a real struggle to juggle everything however I'm not wrecking it. I've never missed a rent payment in nearly 9 years, not even by a day. I guess just meet them.

JustWonderingIfYou · 18/02/2022 20:08

So they have lied about both of their employment and therefore their income and about owning a dog.

Not a chance would I have them in my house. Delete their number and move onto the next family. Shady people.

Kshhuxnxk · 18/02/2022 20:10

Given your updates I wouldn't let to them however before that I would have said yes. My tenant is HB, not missed a payment, house is immaculate, best tenant. The University lecturer however was a different story altogether!!

Kshhuxnxk · 18/02/2022 20:11

@liveforsummer

I'm not sure why a pp would think someone with an HB top up would need extra inspections?! I find that offensive. As someone who was on full benefits when I moved in to my rented accommodation although still had to pay a good chunk as maximum hb didn't cover, it didn't for any private rents, to now when I'm working 6 days a week in 2 jobs but still get a tiny top up. The house was better when I was on full benefits as I had the time where as now it's a real struggle to juggle everything however I'm not wrecking it. I've never missed a rent payment in nearly 9 years, not even by a day. I guess just meet them.
Take it up with the insurers - they set the inspections!
liveforsummer · 18/02/2022 20:18

I've never had any inspections from insurers, only the standard ones from the agency that even the civilised people get

beccahamlet · 18/02/2022 20:24

I've got a property I let out. The only problem i've had with it was when I let to a family on housing benefits. They smoked weed and had a cat in a non pet property. They gave notice and we had a new tenant lined up . I popped round to make sure it was ok for the new lady to move in. They were still there and had been advised by SS to stay there until they were 're housed. The new tenant had nowhere to go and was in tears. Really sad.
I was fed up because i'd really looked after the HB family because they'd got a young baby. Got emergency plumbers in on a Sunday morning so they wouldn't be cold. Was treated like rubbish and felt terrible to let the new tenant down.

Original poster
Maggiethecat · 18/02/2022 20:24

@Kshhuxnxk

Given your updates I wouldn't let to them however before that I would have said yes. My tenant is HB, not missed a payment, house is immaculate, best tenant. The University lecturer however was a different story altogether!!
I know what you mean! I was very close - their flat was immaculate and there was an air of calm about them when I chatted to them - not nervous or anything. The small dog was cute and and obeyed on command while she was talking with me.

There is a part of me that feels that they might be good tenants but I think it would be silly to ignore the dishonesty/story not adding up.

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