Can you get housing benefit paid to you rather than the landlord?

[MiaWallace]

Can you get housing benefits paid to you directly rather than to the landlord?

I'm planning to move to Exeter in September to go to University. My problem is that because of my dd I won't be able to move into halls.

I'm trying to find somewhere to rent privately but so many letting agents/landlords refuse to accept housing benefits.

I have enough saved for a deposit and a months rent in advance. So if I could get the housing benefits paid to me directly, I wouldn't even need to mention I'm claiming benefits (I will only be receiving housing benefits and child tax credits because of my student loan).

I know it's slightly dishonest and if I was asked directly I would admit that I was entitled to housing benefits. But if I can find somewhere without them needing to know, then I'm more than willing to go along with it.

I'm normally a very honest person but I'm getting desperate. I really don't want to miss out on my Uni place but that's what will happen if I can't find somewhere to live.

I hadn't considered that Hatrick as I didn't read the whole thread. You are right, of course.

However, oftentimes I think landlords ahve pre conceived ideas about people dependent on benefit. This is why the rent deposit scheme falls rather flat even though it actually creates a lot of security for landlords.

Mortgage lenders need to get real in that case and stope being so bloody prejudiced.

In our area they have to be paid to the tenant.

Dh goes to collect it every month, they have asked for it to be changed but they weren't allowed.

That's Norfolk btw

Mellow, we're moving across the country to the West Coast of Scotland come October.

true about prejudice, when I was young I moved into a house with a number of other tenants - the owners lived in a self contained flat on the ground floor. When they went travelling for a year, they rented their own flat out to a colleague of the man's. They came back to chaos, and muttered about tenants on HB. My boyfriend at the time pointed out to the landlords that actually those of us on benefits had generally been just fine as tenants, with one exception, it was those in paid employment and a student who had ripped them off, including Mick's colleague/mate. Many benefit recipient tenants really don't want to lose decent accommodation if we can get it, and may actually have more incentive to pay rent and look after a property than an employed tenant on a good who can easily just move to another property.

hattrick, I've reconsidered after what you said about the mortgage. I wouldn't want to cause anyone problems by not being honest upfront.

Back to the drawing board I guess. Just feel so sad that after all the hard work I've put into getting a place at Uni, I might still miss out on the opportunity to go

Mia
PLEASE speak to a Housing Officer at the council or look up housing associations in the area!

Help is there.

If you can get a housing association flat, market rent, you can then apply for HB and the housing association won't mind because they are social landlords.

Google housing associations in [insert location].

Mia, just to add, that in Exeter you may not need to have a pretenancy determination done. Some areas of the country don't go by the "market rent" thing - they just look at your family and decide how much your allowance will be based on that (nothing to do with the flat/house you choose). In those areas, they pay the HB direct to you. Going through an agent may be a good idea as many of them are used to having tenants on hb and will understand the system - they can be more understanding when you have late payments etc.
Give Exeter council a ring and ask them if it's a Local Housing Allowance area - much easier for you if it is.

Keep us posted, Mia!

Ring the uni. Explain you understand you have no chance of getting the family accom. and ask them to help you with a getting another place.

Do they have lists of places - anyone that accepts students would surely accept housing benefit as it would make them more likely to get their money not less.

I've looked into housing association expat. Exeter council runs a scheme where housing association houses and council houses are allocated on a points scheme.

I've signed up but I'm in the 'green band' the lowest priority. It's unlikely I will get another before Uni starts, although I will keep trying.

I just can't get over how upset and stressed I am about all this.

I've worked so hard this year to complete my Access course and get accepted by a good university, plus ending a relationship with my partner two months ago (after finding out he was having an affair).

I just feel like I deserve a bit of luck in finding an house so I can go to university and build a better future for myself and my dd

I've rung the uni twentypence and they were unable to help. The just suggested I rung around the local letting agents.

Could you try Housing Associations and Private Trusts - which may take a bit of digging around to find?

How about some help from MNers?

Any BTL's out there who can help in Exeter??

Expat, thank you so much for your support. You've made me cry (sorry highly emotional with everything that's going on atm)

There must be some way to achieve this. What about offering your services as "au pair " to a family in return for a room in their house for you and your child or something like that? My son at first at university went into temporary lodgings - the university had deals with local families with a spare room although I am not sure they would want a child too.

some landlords wont accept hb as in some areas it can take months to come through ime,not because they are necessarily being judgemental.

alot of landlords where i live specify 'no dss' but you wouldnt be classed as dss if you dont get income support?

i dont know how it works now,but on the old familt credit system alot of people were entitled to some hb even though they were working.

letting agencys would be best as they have alot of experience with hb etc.

Xenia, Mia is a single mum who is trying to give her daughter a better life.

Who will give her daughter a better life.

It's still early, Mia, don't give up hope!

Who is the MP in the area?

Honestly, it couldn't hurt to write to him and your own as well.

How about contacting a NO DSS landlord, anyway, and asking first off if they'll take a student and then discussing the DSS.

Expat, you are making me feel more positive. I will find out who the local MP is and write a letter tomorrow.

I will get the Exeter Echo on Thursday (Rental page is out on a Thursday) and call every number.

I've worked too hard to give up now. I will do whatever it takes to take up my uni place.

Any more suggestions, from anyone, will be more than welcome.

Thanks

expat, what did I say that was inconsistent with that? Lots of parents solve the accommodation/child issue by getting live in jobs where the child can stay. I've known boarding school staff manage that and those helping out with a family's children in return for board. I was just trying to think laterally of other options combinable with studying. Live in housekeeper too is another one.

Anyway I hope you find somewhere. Try local churches too.

Xenia I appreciate that you are trying to help but I don't think it would be fair to move my dd in with another family.

She is only 2 years old and is already dealing with the upset of her father leaving. It will be difficult for her to move to a new home and start at a new nursery without the added confusion of living with new people.

Thank you for the suggestion though

MW Don't forget that not all landlords are going to stipulate no DSS. Anyway, you culd argue that DSS is not Housing Benefit since HB is not a Social Security benefit. Then you would not strictly be in the wrong. All depends on reasons behind landlord making any such stipulation though.

Could you look, as Xenia suggests, for some sort of cottage in exchange for cooking/driving/similar type affair that would not be too time consuming and would also provide private accomodation?

I'd put you up if I were in Exeter but I'm sadly miles away.

You will solve this, you gotta believe that!