My child goes to school so it isn’t that easy to go too far, plus I want somewhere I can stay for long term so I don’t keep needing to change her schools. My area choice however is from Enfield to oakwood and surrounding areas so it’s pretty flexible. It took me 3 years to find a suitable place and my landlords are lovely too but unfortunately the communal garden is directly outside my door and with Covid and lockdown and me being extremely vulnerable we need a house with our own space and garden to enjoy.
I’m sure something will turn up for us. Take care.
I feel like I need to correct you there I am on universal credit and the money goes straight to my landlord, because you can set it up that way through universal credit.
If you don’t ask the tenant then you would never know every month I do not need to contact anyone.
The payment goes straight to my landlord
You should appreciate that you got a nice place to live with good landlord and good school for your child. There are so many people with families and children live in flats and even they don’t have communal garden near by.
I know you a lady who lives in a one bedroom flat with her son
for many years and the reason is that the location is good for her child and going to school.
Also I know there are so many people moved out
of London because they wanted bigger space and their own garden of to enjoy and have found school for their children.
Also as Colin says and I know as well people on benefits don’t pay.
So just like you have decided that you have certain criteria in your life what type of place you like and there is also landlords
have certain criteria that what type of tenant they
would prefer to have in their properties for long term so they can have peace of mind, security and enjoy their life too without any troubles.
So from my point of views it’s just how individual have their business.
People don’t argue about different hotel rates when
they just go and stay in hotel where they can afford to stay and even hotels do ask credits card details for guarantee before hand if there are going to be any changes.
So when landlords decide not to rent their properties
to dss it’s because of their choices and different reasons for it and not because of discrimination.
I appreciate a lot in my life and been through a lot so you shouldn’t really be judge someone without knowing the full picture. Before this I lived in a flat in Edmonton and know what it is to struggle. It seems you have had many bad experiences from what u say but for me I always pay my rent early and never missed a payment and I pay on top too. When you have a chronic illness you are limited with money but That does not mean that I should “settle” for something if I am not happy to.
Colin seems like a recent landlord and don’t accept Dss for reasons out of his control so I understand. But just like you said that there are tenants who don’t pay, there are also professional tenants who don’t pay and landlords who DO discriminate. That don’t mean every tenant or every landlord does tho. Have a good day.
Elffie1. Hi you would not believe how many applicants lie. They lie because they know if they tell the truth we will not have them. I am not a “Recent” landlord (40 years) but I am a" Decent" "landlord
i think its discrimation to not except dss tenants , there is good people on dss or bad people cant paint people with the same brush , its not fair., also there is bad tenants that are working or good people that are working , how can people also afford a guarntor that also cost especially if the council help with a rent deposit scheme , i dont understand ,im looking for my daughter in law with a six month old baby and cant get help on the council they say to rent private well thats hard when ur on benefits ,and need a guarntor which you also have to pay ,
and its wrong where they say no children allowed and what makes me annoyed is that people except students , how is that fair , there could be bad tenants in students , its all wrong ,
Sometimes some landlord say properties not suitable for children as some properties are not safer because of open plan mezzanine style bedroom. So that is the reason for rejecting enquires with young children.
I absolutely understand the landlords position however like Effie I have been medically retired from work after 38 years in a primary school. My partner was involved in a car accident which eventually he had to be medically retired from work due to his injuries,he also was in full time work. Both of us have never had to claim any kind of benefits until now, we are in an awkward position due to a pipe that leaked under the back of the bath the foundations have sunk and the bathroom floor is now dangerous for us to walk on however this is the only bathroom facility in the house. Our landlady has tried as as I have to find another property well I began to realise that this was going to be an horrendous experience with estate agents being so rude and cold about renting on the private sector,you won’t meet the reference criteria, you won’t be accepted by landlords, you’d be better of asking the council for housing
Do they not know the housing crisis for social housing!!!
I had an agents employee defraud me of money using Covid as a reason for not going to office. He was sacked but I had no idea I did get my money which I had used what was left of my medical pension for a deposit, the agents itself had no interest once they had told them I had been paid back. This caused me great stress to the point I wanted to end my life, I never thought that being on universal credit would be so cruel to people who just want to live in a nice home,which I would treat with respect. I am at the end of my tether, I get a monthly pension payment which is topped by UC yet still I can not get a place to live. We can not move out temporarily as my partner is in great pain waiting for more operations so would not be conducive to his recovery, I have a chronic pain condition too. This has been a very upsetting and trying time. I have never felt so much shame, feeling dehumanised, demoralised and thrown on the scrap heap. I also do not have anyone who earns the crazy 3x the rent for a guarantor, so again another brick wall. This is a world for the fortunate and well of , forget those who have worked,paid contributions, and given their heart and soul in the job they had. Through no fault of their own they find the self in a situation they don’t wish to be in. Tell me if private rental doesn’t want us, social housing can not help us. What is the answer !!! I have viewed properties that are so bad and overpriced yet still not able to rent.
Sorry to hear of your troubles. The long term answer has to be more social housing. Ultimately councils and government have a responsibility for the vulnerable, private landlords don’t. In the shorter term the rules need to change to allow landlords to evict problem tenants far more easily as this would then encourage landlords to accept tenants that dont meet the perfect profile as they would be more confident they are not committing themselves to long term problems. I do genuinely consider benefit claimants and currently have a couple as tenants, who have both been good however full understand why most landlords feel the risks are too high at the moment although appreciate this doesn’t help you.
I’m with you on the no dss shoulnt be allowed discrimination cos I’m a single dad Im on benefits cos i have adhd so have my problems my is autistic 6yr who needs a home but I’m on dss and no one will touch us gaurantour has to earn 34 grand a year I don’t know anyone earn thst much months and months been looking ringing around I get enough money rent paid most of it regualr thst most jobs i was self employed painter 30 years so i and got savings they still won’t touch me my some sorry they don’t take kids sorry gotta be working sorry don’t have anything that meets your criteria so what nothing fucking estate agent must have something lol lol sorry had say something cos had a gut full of fuck yous from estate agents whole day of it today and still nothing
Matt
I have several experiences with DSS in one case when the rent was paid directly to me. i found 2 issues ! the benefit recipient had a contract with me for 6 months, however if for whatever reason the council chose to withdraw the housing benefit the contract would still stand and ultimately i would have to take the tenant to court. 2, And even more serious the council wrote to me and said they were investigating the tenant and if it proved that the council decided he was not entitled the council would take back from me all the rent it had paid as the tenant would not have been entitled. Even better if the council decided i had colluded with tenant i would have been prosecuted. And it turned out all this because tenant had not replied to a letter from the council.
I also do this as it also shows due diligence and forms part of their ID. 3 months bank statements and 3 months wage slips, plus passport or driving licence. You then can clearly see if they are in arrears and wages going in and regularly on time rent payments coming out. This is of course if they already currently rent but it certainly shows if they can manage money well.
I have never had anyone decline to present this, which in itself tells you a lot. Along with current evidence of rent payments where they live and landlord referencing and a drive by their current home or even an offer of ‘I’ll look at these documents at your current home’ (not inc of Covid issues) goes along way to help make a decision even before paying for referencing and it enables you to see how they keep their current home.
The more work you put in up front the less I hope of hassle once they are in. It shows also how well they communicate which is paramount in having a good relationship with your tenant. This of course is all after an applicant questionnaire being completed before viewing, and meeting them yourself on viewing.
I have only ever not met 1 tenant in 10 years. This was when I used a letting agent on a let only basis and due to his lack of incompetence it never happened. He has been the only tenant I have ever given notice too ironically. Fortunately it was only stress it cost me ( but it could have escalated to much more). He wasn’t the easiest person to deal with or communicate with and not the type of tenant I could deal with. Had I met him I’m sure it would have been obvious.
But if there were not so many landlords, there would be no shortatge of housing. Society is allowing you to be a landlord and is perfectly entiltled to pass laws to force you to not do certain things.
" not so many landlords there would be no shortage" . Are you on something that mixes your brain? There is a shortage because not enough low cost houses are being built , also too many council houses have been sold off in past years. There has been a housing shortage for decades… Without the private rental sector MORE people would be homeless ,many CANNOT afford to buy. Society is allowing you to be a tenant and is perfectly entitled to pass laws to force you to do or not do certain things