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Petitions and activism
Original poster

My bank asked me to evict my housing benefit tenant

44 replies

HelenaMcAleer · 21/10/2018 19:06

Hi all

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this message. It's a long story but recently NatWest asked me to evict my tenant simply because she was on housing benefit. I've Refused!

I'm not changing banks, and questioning the ethics and legality of them and many other banks doing the same thing. I have also started a petition to get the government to prevent banks from discriminating in this way.

You can read my full story and sign the petition here, please do as making a difference in society would be massive.

www.facebook.com/Happyhelz/posts/10156021438028111

The Guardian reported on this at the weekend and many companies have pledged their support but it's real people and real signatures that i need. If you've any questions, please just ask. x

OP posts:
wowfudge · 21/10/2018 19:11

Are you now in breach of your mortgage terms and conditions though?

katseyes7 · 21/10/2018 19:12

Signed and shared on Facebook and twitter. This is disgraceful.

Sugarhunnyicedtea · 21/10/2018 19:13

Did you sign mortgage terms and conditions to the effect that you could not accept tenants in receipt of HB?

Stickmangate · 21/10/2018 19:18

What would the bank expect you to do if they had signed a 12 month tenancy and 2 months in claimed housing benefit? I didn’t think you could just evict half way through a tenancy without good reasons

BubblesBuddy · 21/10/2018 19:27

How did the bank know you had a tenant on benefits? What rules do they have regarding tenants in mortgaged homes? After all, you don’t own it outright do you?

muchalover · 21/10/2018 19:27

Signed. Disgusting discrimination.

CookPassBabtridge · 21/10/2018 19:28

I think it's harsh to have to evict them, at least let them finish their tenancy. But did you check the rules before letting? We've had several mortgages with different banks and none of them allowed housing benefit.

Confuzzlediddled · 21/10/2018 19:32

Signed and tweeted to my MP, we've lived in our home since 2011, in the last 5 months I've gone onto ESA due to my disability,a massive drop from earning 35k a year and despite the fact DH works full time we're able to claim a portion of our rent as local housing allowance, im so glad we have a fab landlord (the house isn't mortgaged either) otherwise we would be facing being on the streets!

Original poster
HelenaMcAleer · 21/10/2018 19:33

Yes supposedly, here's the guardian article... though I did check the T&Cs and it doesnt say anything at all there.

OP posts:
OP posts:
leghairdontcare · 21/10/2018 19:35

You've started a petition because you want the government (aka UK taxpayers) to be able to pay your mortgage via housing benefit. No.

We need better quality social housing available for people like your tenant. We won't get that if the government pours millions of pounds into private property.

Original poster
HelenaMcAleer · 21/10/2018 19:36

I had the tenant before I had the mortgage, if you read the FB post, you'll know more :) I can't write it all again i'm exhausted lol Also here's the guardian link www.theguardian.com/money/2018/oct/20/natwest-is-it-right-to-evict-a-woman-on-housing-benefit#comment-121693947

OP posts:
greendale17 · 21/10/2018 19:36

You've started a petition because you want the government (aka UK taxpayers) to be able to pay your mortgage via housing benefit. No.

^I agree

Notacluewhatthisis · 21/10/2018 19:37

How did they know?

GreenMeerkat · 21/10/2018 19:37

My DH used to own a second property and let to housing benefit tenant.

Best tenant he ever had, lovely single mum with a little girl. Really clean, even did her own decorating. Rent always on time never any issues.

When it came to renewing his mortgage deal however, barely any other provider would touch him because she was HB! Ridiculous. He ended up getting a decent deal with the same provider but all that resistance just because she was on HB was just ludicrous.

GreenMeerkat · 21/10/2018 19:39

@leghairdontcare where else are they supposed to live? There is a huge lack of social housing and private landlords accepting HB tenants is a small drop in the ocean but does help the situation.

God forbid you should ever end up in that predicament!

SassitudeandSparkle · 21/10/2018 19:39

So this only came about because you wanted to increase your mortgage and presumably the bank wouldn't consider doing that with the tenant? They didn't really tell you to throw her out, did they? I think you've been a little misleading here.

gamerchick · 21/10/2018 19:40

You've started a petition because you want the government (aka UK taxpayers) to be able to pay your mortgage via housing benefit. No.

Is that how people see it? Sad not that people on low incomes need somewhere to live?

Christ that gets me in the feels a bit. People need a home.

GreenMeerkat · 21/10/2018 19:40
  • Is that how people see it? not that people on low incomes need somewhere to live?

Christ that gets me in the feels a bit. People need a home.*

My thoughts exactly.

Notacluewhatthisis · 21/10/2018 19:41

They didn't tell you to evict her at all. They told you they wouldn't extend your mortgage.

Get a mortgage somewhere else.

MyBrexitIsIll · 21/10/2018 19:44

Errr... where do you expect people who receive housing benefit to live if they can’t rent when there is a mortgage??

AND if they rent a house that has been paid in full, what do you think the housing benefit is been used for? Basically giving an income to the homeowner. So yes as a tax payer, you will nicely give an income to any landlord anyway....

You need to wake up folks. Housing benefit isn't there to pay the mortgage or the income of someone. It’s there to help somebody having a food over their heads. And as the rental market is mostly private, it will help private owners/landlords.

Just like benefits is a way to prop companies and allow them to get away with no paying proper living wages.
Because that’s what our taxes are for, would you also advise companies to not employ anybody that is receiving any benefits too?
I doubt it..... but that’s exactly what those who are saying it’s normal not to have someone who is receiving housing benefit and a mortgage are saying.

leghairdontcare · 21/10/2018 19:46

We need better quality social housing available for people like your tenant. We won't get that if the government pours millions of pounds into private property.

^My second point.

OP, I've read the guardian article and I appreciate you're not the 'typical' landlord but encouraging lenders to relax their lending rules is certainly not I want in the current economic climate. And it would benefit all landlords who may not be as kind as you. It is still my belief that the government should focus on building more social housing for those who need it.

wowfudge · 21/10/2018 19:49

If you had the tenant before the NatWest BTL mortgage, what was the situation prior to applying for that mortgage OP?

Rtmhwales · 21/10/2018 19:49

Signed it :)

seeingdots · 21/10/2018 19:54

Stopping people accessing private rented housing doesn't get more social housing built. Only public investment in social housing can do that and there's little political appetite for that.