[clw1981]

As someone who, through one reason or another (legimate before you question me), claims benefits thus needed DSS property I would like people to respond to what I am about to write please.

All landlords want deposits, this is meant to be for protection against damages and should be held in seperate account. However, if you are a respectable DSS tenant like myself how are you supposed to afford a deposit in the first place?

Local council will not give out monies for deposits unless you fall in a specific criteria. DWP do not give out loans for such deposits. Family/friends are not in a position to give me a huge wad of cash.

For health reasons (I have Crohns) I need access to my own toilet and do not like sharing facilities such as kitchens because people leave such mess. As a result I prefer self contained!

So landlords and/or those in the know, how is it most landlords refuse DSS tenants due to their lack of deposit despite the person knowing full well that they cannot afford a deposit? Are people like me, ie ex-homeless (non drug taker or alcoholic I must add), supposed to stay on the streets for good?

[Bluey]

It is wrong to assume that landlords refuse HB/LHA tenants because of stereotypes about their behaviour.

It has everything to do with the system which pays 4 weekly in arrears when employed tenants pay monthly in advance and don't struggle to provide deposits.

LHA tenants now receive the rent directly instead of the landlord and this deters many. Tenants in benefits are harder to evict because of the gatekeeping policy of local authorities that tell tenants served notice to stay put until the landlord gets a court order.

Simply put, LHA tenants are a more risky group, landlords are risk averse. There is a huge shortage of social housing accommodation and private landlords resent being forced into being a branch of social services to house the vulnerable when they are not equipped to do so.

Contact Shelter and read the info on their website, speak to your local council to see if they have DSS friendly landlords or a deposit guarantee scheme. Register with local council's and housing associations for property - you may get extra points because of your health problems.

"how is it most landlords refuse DSS tenants due to their lack of deposit despite the person knowing full well that they cannot afford a deposit" Simple, it's a basic minimum entry criteria for a tenancy. someone who cannot even provide this shows that they have no contingency and can easily go into arrears. from a landlord's perspective, their property is an investment and the tenancy is a business relationship, they do not need to trouble themselves with the personal circumstances of a tenant - affordability issues are an irrelevance, they aren't social housing landlords.

90% of problem tenants arise when unreliable tenants aren't identified and screened out at the very start, therefore it is imperative that they only award a tenancy to someone who can demonstrate they can afford it. a landlord cannot distinguish between a 'decent' DSS tenant or a non-decent DSS tenant since bad ones cover it up.

Step into a landlord's shoes and walk around in them - see it from their perspective.

[bignorth]

i have a one bed flat to let in northampton and do accept dss tenants however i do need the first months rent in advance, this rent in advance can sometimes be available as a crisis loan from the job centre!!

regards

richie