‘No DSS’ when renting

[ihavetogoshoppingnow]

When estate agents say no DSS does it mean anyone on benefits at all or just people who are unemployed?

I currently own a house with my now ex and I’m looking at moving out and renting untill our house sells and I can buy on my own. I work full time but will be entitled to tax credits and housing benefit.

You'd think so genetics.

What happens if you are on benefits because you are disabled and can't work? Surely not allowing rental would be discrimination then?

The terms of my mortgage and my insurance don’t specify, it just doesn’t allow me to rent to anyone in receipt of housing benefit / universal credit.

I’m another landlord (accidentally as we rent our family whilst overseas on an expat assignment) and my insurance and mortgage also specify no housing benefit.

There are moral failings on all levels

Government
Councils
Lenders and insurers
Estate agents
Landlords

An impossible amount of prejudice to face. It’s disgusting.

Where exactly are all the people who receive HB meant to live?

SingularityX

Your DM is covered by the DDA, although it is one thing knowing that and another things proving it.*

The terms of my mortgage and my insurance don’t specify, it just doesn’t allow me to rent to anyone in receipt of housing benefit / universal credit.

But your mortgage is not the responsibility of the tenant, you are discriminating against disabled people and women, which is pretty disgusting in my opinion.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-42979242

Well if I am it’s entirely unintentionally.

I am an accidental landlord - my house was in negative equity after the last crash and still is. As such I have had to rent it out. And also as such I cannot change mortgage providers or mortgage terms. I simply cannot afford to convert to a buy to let mortgage so apply for permission to let on a variable rate mortgage every month. and the term of that mortgage and permission to let say I must rent to someone not in receipt of benefits.

I’m not on a one woman campaign to keep people out of housing.

*every year

I don’t think you can apply for HB while owning a home

Uyulala, well they (I) live in either council/HA homes, which these days are rarer than hens teeth. Or there are a rare few landlords who will take HB, but the homes are usually run down and not maintained as the LL knows they have you over a barrel. Occasionally you’ll find one which will take 6 months in advance and a guarantor

Please go on rightmove and see how many advert say no DSS/HB.

I’m having the same issue.

I live in a council house with my 3DC - escaped an abusive marriage. I’ve worked part time and attended college 3 full days a week the last year.

I need to move to be able to go to University this September. I have a guarantor, an okay credit score and 2k sat in the bank ready and waiting so I can move. I have a reference from my tutor and a reference from the landlord I was with prior to leaving my ex.

But nobody will rent to me. I feel like I’m doomed to stay on benefits / minimum wage job forever.

I just want to be a frigging Scientist man!

NukaColaGirl to the last line!

I moved out of my mums with my partner and son about 5 months ago, haven’t got round to claiming universal credit yet, if I got my 2 months notice to leave would I not be able to rent anywhere else? Does it really count as DSS?!

I have a BTL which I own outright. I rent to a single working mother on housing benefit. I've definitely disclosed this to my insurance company. It's not a shithole either; it's very nice, I'd live there myself.

i have a son who is working part time and needs housing benefit to top up his income. He is desperate to move out but can't afford to do so without housing benefit. He has finally found work after a long period of unemployment, and it looks like we will have to fund him. He gets his income topped up by the job centre at the moment. If we act as guarantors or pay 6 months up front , will the landlord accept him with housing benefit? It's a minefield.

Cantankerous Camel YES you can claim hb when you own a property. Irrespective of the equity you can claim if it was the fmh and you are or have taken steps to sell the property. I.e. have instructed an agent. You are initially allowed 6 months and the in will then be extended providing you are continuing to take steps to sell. On a separate note, if you have a mortgaged property you are renting out providing the equity does not exceed 16k, you can claim H B. Any income from property is treated as capital. Please don't post on legal and benefits stuff if you don't know because it misleads people.

jobb thanks for the info that’s helpful

@SingularityX

I am in receipt of HB too. In the same boat. Living in studio flat with 3 of us, need to move to a one bed and nearer family support. Impossible it seems

Can't even get name on a list for LA housing as not lived here long enough. No family member suitable guarantor

Sorry, it was a question of frustration, not one that expected an answer. May have come across wrong

@theunsure What about those of us who are disabled?!? I receive Universal Credit & PIP long term and I'm awarded it for 5 years at a time. No housing benefit in sight and no housing benefit. It all comes through my UC & PIP. I receive £25k per year. Why do landlords tar us all with the same brush??? At this rate, all us severely disabled people will be homeless as the council are no help! They say as we need ground floor only it will take even longer than everyone else!!

Another thing Letting Agents are doing, is given the housing shortage, they know they will get multiple applications for each house. So they 'save up' all the applications over two weeks and then give these all to the Landlord at once, to enable them to 'choose the very best' Meaning those of us single parents/Disabled are never ever going to be 'picked'

I'm going to have to go into a Refuge too

We are looking at buying a small BTL property and definitely after reading this I won't be ruling out DSS. We won't be using an agency either as will be managing it ourselves.

We will just personally vet applicants and use common sense, so there will be some of us out there! But few and far between by the looks of it.

My ExH lives in a one bedroom flat for 2.5 years. He's paid his rent on time every month. Never been any trouble. He wants to move to somewhere bigger but everyone says no DSS.
He is ill and on ESA and I believe being in that tiny studio flat make it so much worse

But he can't move anywhere bigger :(

@numptynuts In north or West Yorkshire by any small chance?!?! X

@NukaColaGirl
Have you tried looking for a tenancy exchange? I’d do my best to find one if I were you.
england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/council_housing_association/tenancy_exchanges