Landlord not happy that I’m applying for Housing Benefit

[Worriedfortheroofovermyhead]

I told my Landlord that I had applied for Housing Benefit and they made it clear that they are not happy about, so I’m worried about my tenancy. They told me that they had not let to someone on Housing Benefit before and did not intend to going forward. I think I need to talk to someone at Shelter, but any further advice would be helpful as I’m feeling very anxious about the situation.

Why did you tell him? If you are paying the rent he doesn't need to know where that money is coming from? I've never understood landlords attitudes to this as surely Housing Benefit is more reliable than a wage where you could lose your job any time...

I don't know anything about the legal agreement in this situation. However, surely the landlord can accept that these are difficult times and that we are all doing what we must?
Good luck x

I told him because my rent was due two weeks ago and, after talking to two people including a welfare rights person, they advised that it would be best to tell my landlord a little more about what was happening.

It's possible the insurance excludes housing benefit tenants.

We are claiming universal credit with covering housing costs. My landlord doesnt like housing benefit but end of the day theres a pandemic. I think you're protected from being evicted

Oh I bet your worried out of your mind. Is this a new rental or have you lost your job?

Landlords can ask you to leave for no reason at all. And their insurance may not cover housing benefit and it might be a term in their mortgage conditions not to lend to someone claiming it.

Keep communication open with them. See if you can take them round and ask what their concerns are.

Talk round, not take round.

I believe s21s are suspended but even if you receive one remember you dont need to leave on the date on the notice. That's their notice they are entitled to take you to court to evict

They don't need to be happy about it as long as you don't end up in rent arrears they can't put you out.

Do you mean you haven't been able to pay the rent that was due two weeks ago?

I am a mature student, but I am on an interruption for health reasons.

Yes, my rent is overdue by two weeks.

Did you tell them prior to it being due that it would be late or missed?

Ah, I see

I told them just before it was due that the payment would be late, yes.

How far into the tenancy are you?

The tenancy started in February, so the Landlord doesn’t really know me.

How long is your contract and is there a break clause and also, have you been able to pay anything towards the rent?

She can't evict you until the assured bit expires - at least six months.

It doesn't bode well from the pov of the LL, that you've only been there a couple of months and you are already behind with the rent.

They wanted a tenant for six months minimum. I believe the lease states they can evict you if you are three months in arrears. I’ve not paid anything towards the overdue payment yet. I would not be able to do so for another week, or two, or until I get a Housing Benefit award.

@GoatyGoatyMingeMinge not true if they go down section 8.

So you've only paid one months rent so far? Or two?

It doesn't bode well from the pov of the LL, that you've only been there a couple of months and you are already behind with the rent.

It doesn't bode well for the landlord that we're about to enter the biggest recession in history! Tough tits to the landlord. She might well be grateful to have a tenant on HB rather than no tenant.

I had to get the bank to okay it when my tenant went onto HB, they had stipulated no. We got round it by her having a relative sign as a guarantor - do you have someone who could do that for you OP?