Housing benefit - Can't find decent privately rented accomm.

annn · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 1

Has anyone on housing benefit managed to find a decent property to rent privately?

I have been desperately searching for a 3 bedroom property to rent privately. Because I am on housing benefit my search has been near on impossible.

I have found a couple of landlords ( through an agency) who were willing to accept housing benefit. The conditions of these properties were appalling and the rents were far too high.

Does anyone know of any landlords/agencies out there who have properties which are clean and in good decorative order that accepts tenants on housing benefits? Sad

Ann

AusPete · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Posts: 7034 Location: West Midlands

what is a "housing benifit"?

i'm lost, i'm afraid

healthy_lemon · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 3122 Location: Þýñýé

ally007 · Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:48 am Post subject:

could not have said it better myself,Healthy. My Mum had a stroke last year and I had to give up work and go on benefits.I am looking for somewhere else to live but as soon as I menion Im claiming housing benefit they dont wanna know. Crying or Very sad

dorothy_shaw@onetel.com · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 1 Location: Oxfordshire

Where are you looking for accommodation? When I was looking in London I signed on to various temp agencies and just told the landlord I was working for one of these and didn't mention housing benefit. I did have some trouble in Oxford but as there are so many houses to rent there were plenty of people who were prepared to accept people on benefits. It's silly really as the landlord can get the housing benefit paid directly to them!

If you're looking in Oxford area I have a nice room to rent at present!

healthy_lemon · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 3122 Location: Þýñýé

Bluey · Community Moderator Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Posts: 4816

What areas are you looking in? Are you on the council housing waiting list or have you applied for housing with any local housing associations?

Have a look at your local council website or contact their private tenancy relations officer.

some local council's post details of HB friendly landlord vacancies or might know HB friendly agencies.

consider posting 'wanted' ads on accommodation websites that offer this facility, making it clear that you are a reliable HB tenant and perhaps indicating your budget (although I understand it's pretty much what ever the local council will pay and is usually far under market rates).

If you can offer good previous landlord references, pass a credit check, pay a deposit or any rent in advance, then make this clear in your ad (as HB is paid in arrears and takes ages to come through which is the main reason why landlords resist it).

ally007 · Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 4:45 pm Post subject:

thanks for all that info

G the 'ammer · Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 1

It's well worth speaking to your Local Authority.
Many councils work in partnership with private landlords and operate schemes that benefit both landlord and those looking for accommodation. Some councils operate a Rental Deposit Guarantee scheme, this is helpful to some people who are unable to find the deposit/bond that most L/L's require. Some councils have lists of L/L's who will accept H/B claimants, Some will even fast track H/B applications that are made in conjunction with the various schemes available. Although, technically, a claim should be processed within 14 days of the council having received ALL requested documentation. NOTE: This isnt the same as 14 days AFTER the claim has been made. But councils get round this all the time, believe me, I work for them! As a previous poster has suggested, speak to the Private Housing Services team at your local council. Good Luck!

ren_kun · Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 8 Location: uk

totaly agree with you i live in devon not much better. we are meaning those on housing benefit are the bottom of the poo in the pond.im looking for a three bedroom house in torbay its murder houses down here are around 600-700 monthly. Mad

healthy_lemon · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 3122 Location: Þýñýé

Bluey · Community Moderator Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Posts: 4816

I haven't heard about the proposals to prevent landlords from refusing accommodation to people on Housing Benefit. In my opinion, it will be unenforceable - landlords might stop putting 'No DSS' on the adverts but if they prefer working tenants, they will invariably prevent HB claimants from viewing the property.

I had heard that the government plans to ban payment of HB for the rent to landlords soon so that all tenants (except those that are deemed vulnerable) will receive the rent directly. It's supposed to make the tenants more responsible, give them more choice, empower them,etc.

However, I understood the pilot for this scheme was considered very negatively by landlords, many of whom lost considerable rent from tenants who couldn't believe their luck at being handed the rent and didn't pass it on to the landlord. I'll see if I can find the info but I believe that after the pilot around 10% of the landlords decided not to accept HB claimants as a result of their experiences.

If this is the case then when this scheme goes nationwide, HB claimants will find they are even more unwelcome - landlords in the UK have got used to the tenants signing over their right for HB to be paid to them and are up in arms about the proposal to lose this control.

BiXSTER · Joined: 14 May 2008 Posts: 1

OMG! - I have 3 properties on rent in London. There is no way on earth I would have DSS clients in there. They will steal from the neighbours and act like scum and trash the house by the end of the year leaving us the landlords with a heafty bill.

The only landlord that will give the house out to DSS are the ones who have got a poor/shoddy house and can't rent it to professionals. It makes financial sense.

Why on earth would we give our hard earned houses out to people that are going trash them and think they have a legal right to do so.

I think your all forgetting one thing....

We own the house we decide what to do with it. You seem to think they landed in our laps. We took action and absorbed risks you took and did nothing or was to scared to take the jump and now the houses are sky high !

Also trusting council tenants to pay their bill with council money is a big mistake, it'll end up at the bookies or offy.

Well, when I was working through Uni and doing 3 jobs no one offered to help....what were you lot doing during this life making time??....

Apologies to all the decent folk on DSS I know it does happen divorces/bankruptcies but we as landlords can't tell the difference between good folk and bad folk and have and will continue to tar you all with the same brush...

itsmeme · Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 41

BIXSTER..............Just to put the record straight we're NOT all scum like you put it and we don't all spend the rent money the way you put it.What happened to references??????? Why should people on benefits get the shity houses???? you landlords should give honest people a chance and not completely run us into the ground!!!!! There's just as much chance for working people to spend their money on drugs and whatever they can get their hands on.I rent privately and have done for 3 years,yes i'm on benefits,no i don't spend my rent on drugs or drink,no i'm NOT in arrears with my rent,neither do i row with the neighbours play loud music and i'm most definetely not dirty.Infact i've just been successful in renting a lovely 3 bedroom house by someone who believes that we should be given a chance and not run into the ground because i was given a great reference by my current landlord and a great character reference.If more landlords gave us a chance there wouldn't be such a huge proplem!!! GRRRRRRRR rant over!!!!!

naomij · Joined: 09 May 2008 Posts: 11

BISTAR

PLEASE, you went to uni so you must have some sense!!! What you have written is an exaggerate incorrect mass generalisation.

Tell me what DID you study when you went to uni?

God know's what I was doing when YOU went to uni, I was probably just being BORN, but i too went to uni my dear, and will be finally finishing this year as I had two children in the process.

Whilst I am not excusing nor justifyng having a break from uni and claiming housing benefits, having my children is the only reason why i do so. NO i do not want your sympathy either, it was my choice and i am happy with it, it won't be forever.

You see, I do not wish to have 100 children and live of benefits for the rest fo my life, i was RAISED better than that, and i want to set a BETTER EXAMPLE for my own children.

I desire to have a career and provide for my family, and maybe one day as my own mother has done, aquire a few properties to rent out of my own.

I live in premises paid for by housing benefit, and have had nothing but respect for the place, firstly because my home is on loan and i am so GRATEFUL to the landlord for renting it to me in the first place and secondly it's where I LIVE, and i take PRIDE in my home and the things that i have.

Granted not everyone is like this, but i can ASSURE you the good ones are the MAJORITY.

REFERENCES are an adequate way to VET your prospective tenants before agreeing to a tenancy.

Housing Benefit can be paid DIRECTLY to YOU

In some cases the council pay the deposit and you don't have to refund it at the end of the teneancy either.

I resent the fact that you used such words as 'scum' and blaming us for your 'sky high' house prices, basically calling us all 'stupid, drunks who like to go the bookies'

I can not believe an educated person such as yourself could spout such 'FOOLISHNESS', espcially in today's society. Use that brain of yours and WAKE UP, meet people and decide for yourself, using sensible methods to decide who can rent your property, because as long as the rent is getting paid and you get your deposit, does it matter where the money comes from? OF COURSE your method of vetting tenants would have to make sure they would not 'trash' the place as you put it.

So get off your high horse, just because you own a property that you can rent out, it's not a big deal as PLENTY of people are doing it and trust me it is NOT nothing special. So give yourself a pat on the back and move on.

Just please remember we are all human beings and we all need somewhere to live, and if we are constantly turning our backs on people because of a gross inacurracy, how are people supposed to move on and do better? Surely is it not better to rise above it, make your OWN decisions, and set a good example rather than 'jump into the blinkered pool' and end up sounding stupid.

Which is exactly what you did.

To conclude:

IT IS PEOPLE LIKE YOU, WHO SHOUT S**T FROM THE ROOFTOPS THAT MAKE IT REALLY HARD FOR US GOOD HONEST PEOPLE TO MOVE ON.

chel1987 · Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 1

Well, to put it simply, 'bix', you're a fucking imbecile.

Not everyone who goes to university has sense unfortunately, as this snot nosed little brat has clearly displayed. a degree simpl shows someone that you can take information, interpret it, reuse it and throw it back out there in your own way, at a high level. Intelligence and knowledge are different things.

A persons source of income tells you absolutely nothing about them, as anyone with more than two brain cells could tell you. your little rant is no different from saying you'd refuse to let to any black man with the assumption that he'd be a criminal, vandal, 'gangster', push drugs and so on.
Needless to say, you'd be hammered for that and disallowed from letting properties at all due to discrimination. To be honest, you can eaily get an impression of a person from inviting them for a viewing. Providing you have a good judge of character, which you clearly don't. I know landlords who've made exceptions upon meeting the prospective tenant because the tenants well mannered, quiet nature was clear during the viewing and afterward.

and, no, we're not forgetting anything, idiot. You're the one forgetting that, or being ignorant to the fact that, you can't judge an entire mass of people by a stereotyped handful. I can assure you that I'm much more respectful of my home than the vast majority of students. Infact the only way I could possibly be a better tenant would be if I were to throw in new furniture and a fitted kitchen/bathroom out of my own pocket as a courteous thankyou.

You're narrow minded, have the IQ of cow shit, and the things that come from your mouth, and my arse, bear a striking resemblance.

Also, I wouldn't, in a million years, want to rent from a landlord who can't spell, punctuate and begins a forum post with 'OMG'. You're not on MSN or World of Warcraft.

You wouldn't meet my standards for a landlord any day, they're too high for you ;)

quiet-one · Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 1

Bix
I am very disappointed in what I have read. It saddens me that some people have this point of view and I am aware that there are a large number of people who would probably agree with you. It is very easy to make such a generalised opinion of those not as fortunate. I wonder though if you became unlucky (perhaps bankrupt for example) and you were in desperate need of housing, would you accept it if a landlord turned you away and branded you as 'scum' and expected you to 'steal from the neighbours and act like scum and trash the house by the end of the year'?

I am a qualified primary school teacher and I too spent many years in university education. I never expected to have to rely upon government help as I had a great career ahead of me. However since my partner left me, things have not been as easy as I expected. I have no home and a 2 year old child to look after. I am still living between families houses, I am not working as I am looking after my child full time in the hope of giving her some stability.

I have tried in vain to find landlords that accept dss. I even had an email reply from an very rude letting agent who bluntly replied 'No, we dont accept DSS, get a job and then try again'. I was shocked. I wouldn't be surprised if i had more qualifications than the guy. He didn't exactly come across as very educated.

Bix, i can understand that your properties are your investment and you must have put alot of time and money into them. I can appreciate that you are eager to keep your properties in a good condition and ensure that your tenents do not cause any problems to the neighbouring areas. However I find it extreamly narrow minded that you have such a low opinion of any person who needs financial help in finding a property. I don't see why you couldn't take the time to interview prospective tenants and then make an educated judgement. What's to say that you wont get a roudy high earning tenant?

I like to see the best in every situation and so I am taking the best from mine. I don't intend to be dependent on benefits forever but while I am it is teaching me humility. I am hoping my child will remember how she started off and how difficult things were. Maybe then she will grow up to be compassionate to other peoples situations and will learn not to be judgemental. I would rather learn the hard way then become a snob.

I wish everyone else in this situation the very best of luck in finding and safe and comfortable home. I especially extend my best wishes to those who of you who are carers and who do not have the opportunity or time to find employment. There are many of these people out there on housing benefit or desperately seeking accomodation. These people should be recognised for their merits and deemed as local heros for the work that they do. Unfortunately there are mindless people out there like Bix who feel the need to post a comment on here to call all ppl on housing benefit 'scum'.

There may be alot of ppl on housing benefit who may be lucky enough to change their circumstances for the better in years to come, however I believe that Bix will probably be the bitter soul that he is for years to come. I feel sorry for you Bix.

To everyone else, best of luck finding a good landlord

Smile

Cov · Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 2188 Location: London

quiet-one said

Genuine searcher · Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 5

Of course there are human beings in this world and then there are the Bixsters!

weeowen · Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 1250 Location: Someplace sharp.

I think Bix is pointing out the basic facts of life. It's no different to what the police, insurance companies, and even the RSPCA do - profiling. It's not really his job to to a complete risk-assesment on everyone. If in his experience a certain group of people is more likely to do something he does not like, that doesn't mean everyone does ... but for simplicity, it makes it easier for him to exculde that group. I presume from everyones comments that the "bad" DSS tenants are the minority?

Genuine searcher · Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 5

Years ago, most council tenants cut their lawns, trimmed their hedges and kept their homes which many had lived in for years immaculate. I believe that the ''right to buy'' removed many good houses from the lists and as the British youth has degenerated because those who were getting away with it are now spawning children to be even worse and most know their ''rights'' at age 7 to 8!! have now got claimants a very bad name, whereas I firmly believe that yes bad tenants are very much the minority, but not every dss claimant should be under valued. I do not think it would take someone like Bixster that long to do a dss character judgement as to suitability for one of his props.
My mother years ago rented a house to students from Essex university. (we are talking the 60s here Radicalism,free love/dope an all that) and they looked after the house a treat!...bar painting one wall orange without perm.
After they left, she rented it to a pompous upper class twit from London who caused her no end of problems and left the premises in a terrible state and owing a good deal of rent...So it aint always the clalmants etc. who are the problem.

weeowen · Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 1250 Location: Someplace sharp.

True, but we are talking simple numbers here. And even "good" dss tenants are likely to be under some from of stress in their life (or else, they'd be unlikely to be on DSS) - so even a "good" tenant might find themselves under financial duress. So, in simple risk terms, it's a bad group.

Cov · Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 2188 Location: London

weeowen ... why don't we let the whole wishy washy away for a moment and tell the truth for once ?

The truth follows between the lines:
----------------------------------------------
Landlords are not interested who moves in their property. It could be a mass murder or a rapist, it could be a suicide bomber or a terrorist, a politician or a fraudster, a bigamist or any other asshole ... as long as they pay the rent, everything is fine.

DSS only goes to a certain limit, but landlords want more, the absolute maxiumum they can get.
Even if the potential tenant would be the nicest person in the world, it wouldn't matter as much as the money.
----------------------------------------------

No you may lie again.

weeowen · Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 1250 Location: Someplace sharp.

montyzuma · Community Moderator Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 2687

of course landlords are worried who they let their property to.

i recently had a tenant nicest guy in the world

went off without a word owing me 3 weeks rent

tried to get in touch with him eventually he got back to me

" ive not done a runner , had a family bereivement, ill be back this weekend, " still nowt for another two weeks im feeling guilty about chasing him up till he eventually admits he's off and i can whistle for the rent. of course then its all my fault.