Housing and universal credit

[Jellycat777]

How an earth are you meant to find housing when you're on universal credit?

We currently in private rent, but the house is damp, cold, mouldy, not to mention slugs, we have a 1 year old, and my OH has a health condition and on drugs that lower his immune system.
We've been to the council, says it'll take years.
And every other private rent won't allow universal credit.

Just feels we're being penalised for being on credit! So frustrating.
Any practical tips to get somewhere a bit better for us to life?!

Completely agree, Jelly. I, personally, don't feel it should be legal to discriminate against UC/HB recipients and should be based on renting history and references.

Get on Housing List if possible. Consult council to see if they have lists of UC/HB friendly landlords. Just contact all the private agencies you can to see if they have landlords who take UC. Some do but not many.
Look at online websites for landlords who don't use and agency. Also, contact Shelter to see if they can recommend any in your area.
Good luck!

Most mortgages will not allow renting to people in receipts of benefits.
Most landlords have a mortgage on their property.
Could you try and find a private landlord via gumtree etc, one without a mortgage?

I've been trying. Easier said than done.
Why is that the rule anyway?
Safety of their money getting paid?

I'm a landlord. I have a letting mortgage (interest only) with Nationwide. I received a letter a from them about 2 months ago advising that the terms of the mortgage had changed, and that as a result of an appreciation that a large number of private lets are with tenants relying on HB, and that it was now allowed under the term of the contract to let to people on UC.

I'm not sure whether this was a change impacting all banks, but it is worth asking estate agents about. The number of people prepared to let to people on UC might increase as a result if a number refused because their lender didn't allow it previously.

Thats's probably because everything is rolled into one on UC so people on potentially pretty high incomes can still be on UC depending on their circumstances, rent , childcare costs etc.

@Jellycat777
My darling I'm sorry to hear what you are going through. I am kind of in the same boat as you. I have 2 children both with medical needs and a partner who has osteoarthritis in his spine. However I work as a nurse part time. Most of my income is UC based. I have been to my local housing and told me to sign up to housingmoves ( I have been placed in band 2),homeswapper, homehunt. The local authority won't do nothing for you as you are in private renting.

I've been trying to move for years with no luck at all. Speak with to ur local MP too.