Well said Chris35… I have a tenant who is a tatooist. Imagine how little he has earned during lockdown. so I reduced his rent a few months ago and will review it in january. It was the ethical and moral thing to do.
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Yes Colin, it’s a travesty the way private landlords are depicted as money grubbing ogres, when these accusers clearly have not got a clue what they are talking about.
However it is an open forum, and everyone is entitled to their opinion, however misguided or bigoted it may be.
I only ever have a problem with problem tenants!
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It true im looking for a house, urgently but no one wants to acept DSS and i pay every month correct, but now i want to move frim this house c9s isn’t suitable for my bby who is coming in one month, is so sad ppl pay for others 
Guy_Elsa… Hi, Gosh I wish more Landlords/Ladies were like you! 
Haha! That’s all Iv ever asked for!
I have said to every Letting Agent Iv delt with to please please just ask the LL if they would be willing to meet with me… Just to hear me out & to decide for themselves… If they decide its a “No” then it’s what THEY have decided… But I know when it goes thru an Agency its who the AGENT decides on that’s the “Best Candidate” for the LL’s property!
Id guessed this anyway back in 2008 when I first tried to go Private Rented! Then I was told by a few people over the years (although the Agents will INSIST it’s NOTHING to do with them!)
… How do they keep a straight face when they crack the BEST "one liners!"
But with this new GAVL APP you had to download to be able to view a property via “LiveStream” due to Lockdown/Covid etc it was a Lady from my Local Miles & Barr Lettings office in the town where I live (oh yeah, sorry, I live in Ramsgate CT11 8DF!)… Well it was her who actually told “the World” pretty much that THEY DECIDE WHO THE BEST CANDIDATE IS FOR THE LANDLORDS!
She was doing a demonstration or something about how the GAVL APP works for Streaming live viewings of properties & then how to apply for it!
So after viewing > download the application form > fill in & email back including all relevant documents (if unable to fill in online form just print out, fill in & not forgetting all other documents needed…post thru office door if possible > when enough applications are in we go thru them eliminating them down to 20(?) > then 10(?) > then 5(?) > then out of the last 5(?) we decide who we think is the Best Candidate for the Landlord! > then we contact the LL & inform them of our decision > then after going thru things with the LL we contact the “New Tenant” to let them know “THE LL HAS MADE A DECISION!”…
… Uuurr yeah… Nice sneaky way of making it sound like its the LL who actually decide 100% on his/her own to choose THOSE PARTICULAR TENANTS… BY THEMSELVES!.. When in actual fact its the AGENTS who choose them… The LL’s just get “TOLD” all the good stuff by the Agents & then agree! SO WRONG!
Also, I don’t know of any LL’s however, my eldest Son knows one, a friend of his who has been trying to help, bless him! He has a cpl of properties but both are LT rent & the Tenants at both properties are quite good payers & nice people so he don’t see any problems with them, therefore they won’t be moving anytime soon!
I will just have have to keep trying, keep positive, hold on to my Faith & Pray something good will come of all this! 
(Quick note… Iv put “?” beside the numbers saying about eliminating from 20 to 10 etc because I can’t remember if they were the ACTUAL numbers she said without downloading the app again & finding it! But I know the last 5 are correct!
Well, we have a flat empty right now and can’t get a tenant! I’ve offered it to a middle aged lady but she’s unable (or maybe doesn’t want to) complete the credit checks & references. I’ve reminded her several times over the last week to submit her information. I’m probably going to reject her now because she’s messing me about! It’s really difficult for both prospective tenants and landlords right now. And whilst it is a business, we’re trying to give someone a home not just a flat/property to live in so it’s very important to find someone who’s going to both pay the rent (we have outgoings of £200 pm on this flat) and look after the flat in an appropriate way. Good luck in your search. Hey, and try your local council/housing authority?
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The situation has not improved since my first post. The tenant will not move. I have 9 Anti social complaints in total. She, with her unlimited legal support provided by the state to UC/ DSS tenants launched a dilapidation retaliatory claim thus making my repossession now have to go to trial at a cost of £000’s.
I sleep on a fiiends living room floor, a sofa bed. I do not know what damage the tenant has caused inside my property but she claims the first builder made such a hash of things another must be instructed to repair this damage. The first builder if you recall was her father working with my tenant (his daughter) submitting fraudulent invoices for non existent work. Apparently its not a crime. Just like I read on the BBC webpages someone sold someone else’s house to another 3rd party without their knowledge, apparently that’s not a crime either. Shocking.
house stolen
I read the posts and this one makes so much sense > Chris35.
“If you, and other deserving benefits tenants wish for things to change, start talking to your local councilor, and impress upon them that if they seriously wish to provide support for said tenants, then it’s high time they revised the social tenant rules and processes.”
“… the housing benefit is there for the sole purpose of paying the rent to secure a roof over your heads, so why should it not be paid directly to the landlord as a matter course, and completely outside the influence of the benefit tenant.”
Benefit tenants very quick to complain or take but don’t seem to realise it is they who are causing the issues relating to housing. I am facing financial ruin. I tried to help someone with what I now know was simply a lie, a sob story and I fell for it. Don’t blame landlords, a DSS / UC tenant is an appalling risk to take.
I cannot afford to defend myself anymore against someone on benefits, I am absolutely financially exhausted so she will win and I will have to bear costs which run into tens of £000’s thousands. I have asked my solicitor to make offers but she rejects them all. I can’t progress. The notice period expired August last year, issued in March 2020 and I am still unable to move back into my home. My debts are just over £20k. This is my lot for taking on a UC DSS council tenant.
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Hi Sally,
I’m so sorry hear that your situation is getting worse and you have my deepest sympathy and I feel very angry at this should be allowed to happen. However what is happening to you is not because the perpetrator is in UC/Housing benefit, this person is a criminal no matter what her financial situation is! Being on benefits does not make people criminal! Again I am saddened and disgusted what is happening to you and I’m hoping and praying that the law will see the real truth of what is being done to you, but please stop the discrimination against benefit claimants, it’s unfair and unjust.
I have written to my MP a few times about how the rules around the monies that claimants get solely for rent should always be paid directly to LL’s or if this is not possible then there should be a severe penalties/consequences, because a UC statement is broken down in to several elements which clearly shows what is being paid and why, so for example The Housing element says that £XXX amount is for rent and which you should pay to your LL direct, now to me this shows that that money is ring fenced so there can be no plea of ignorance.
My MP is arranging a face to face consultation with me about this and my own housing situation so I am hoping he can give me some advice on how I can fight for this to be classed and treated as fraud or anything that can give landlords confidence in the government by making sure that any money awarded by UC/HB for rent MUST be used for that very purpose or pay the LL’s direct’
Once I have consultation I will let everyone know but please don’t tie us all to the same brush it’s very unfair.
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Its not about discrimination. Don’t draw that as a battle line, its got nothing to do with it. You are on the other side of the fence and it makes me cross you feel its unjust and unfair, that’s just words behind a PC screen, I am living in hell.
The point is 2 people interested in a property one on benefits, one isn’t. You have 2 groups. It’s about risk.
People in employment work to build up their capital and would not embark on multiple claims that all carry a risk of loss. Most people would look for amicable solutions and/or just move on with their lives. The costs to embark on legal action is very high for people not on benefits.
The other group on benefits of which there are good but also unpleasant, have unlimited access to state funded financial support for taking a claim against a landlard. Solicitors and barristers all paid for vs my own very limited (now gone) funds. There is no ‘tarring with the same brush’ Of course there are good and bad in both groups but I DID NOT say there isn’t. It is not discrimination to think about risk. Its a hidden risk but its painfully real.
Its not so much the tenant themselves, its the legal costs which will obliterate you and a system that is open to this abuse, Colin mentions its the new ambulance chasers and he is right.
We aren’t talking a few hundred pounds, maybe a few thousands, its tens of thousands and as a tenant on benefits they have no exposure to that at all. No risk, nothing.
There are solicitors queing up to grab a piece of this free pie and social tenants, complaining they can’t get housing, but who will gladly give them the business in exchange for a bit more free money, maybe only a £1000 or 2 but what do they care, bugger the consequences or that landlords see benefit tenants as appalling risk. Bugger that they get a deposit paid for free then can make a claim against it. Is that ethical or morally right, who cares, its free money. No responsibility but too eager to take anything they can. They are the ones who are responsible for the problem and they unfortuntely make up the DSS / UC group. I don’t ever read that Shelter are waking up to resolve the root cuases of the problem.
None of that is discimination so stop throwing mud at me. I don’t know you but its enough having this mire to live thorough let alone being judged by a benefit tenants as well. I am simply putting down what is happening to me, Its real. Maybe its a kind of therapy but its a dark place to be in. Thats not a personal launch at you Julie, I don’t know you but it is simply the reality of this mess.
ALL of the risk falls to the landlord. I have nowhere to live and cannot move back into my home. I have more debts than I have ever had and there is no end in sight. Anti depressants are normal now. That is not disciminating against UC DSS tenants.
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Sally first of all let me make it clear
I am full of empathy and disgust at what is happening to you and I am absolutely shocked that the government allows these types of claims to be given legal aid!! I have some understanding of the risk all private LL’s face as my sister has a few properties and she had a home she let out to a doctor who absolutely trashed her place and never got any help from the courts either. I am in no way waning or intending to throw mud at you but I can see now why you mention the benefits claimants due to the fact they have access to legal aid/free lawyers. I thought legal aid very strict in who and what anyone can claim it for, I’ve obviously got that wrong and can not and will not defend this kind of person taking advantage of being in the benefits system! I will also be mentioning this to my MP because again LL’s suffering like you is another barrier for genuine people needing access to the private housing sector and it’s another barrier that is quite rightly justified!!
Please accept my sincere apologies for my ill thought out reply, I’m absolutely mortified that I e added to your distress it genuinely was not my intention. My only hope is that the court rules correctly and this person is punished to the full extent of the law and that you can recoup some if not all of your losses.
I’m not sure what can be done to stop this kind of thing happening and I’m surprised that no one has started a petition to stop these people being allowed to claim legal aid! I know some people may laugh and think it’s pointless but I helped in the background on Lucy’s Law that started in the same way so they can work.
However I know this doesn’t help you now and all I can offer is that my hopes and prayers are that you get the justice you deserve.
So so sorry Sally
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the above event just highlights scumbag solicitors who defend the liars ,thieves and robbers in society. Many Landlords will sell up if legislation SOON does not help them . It all started when H B was not directed to the landlord but straight to the tenant to teach them how to handle their money!! Have to finish now I cannot stop laughing
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I totally agree I do not see the logic behind such a pathetic statement! If anything it highlights the fact that many benefit claimants are choosing to be on benefits as a lifestyle because anyone who’s had a job and worked for a living knows how to look after their finances. I’m in W. Yorkshire and worked from being 15 years old even going back to work when my children reached 6 weeks old and my salary was way above the average for my area. Then I was shot down with this disability and so my blindfold has been truly ripped off as I am thrown in o the benefits system and seen how landlords are treated by the government which in turn makes it extremely difficult to get past. I am trying to do something about it and I’m awaiting a face to face with my MP because I’ve come to realise that the government is creating the discrimination and after reading Sally’s story I feel like I’m a lottery winner in the fact I’ve had a private landlord trust me with his home! So I agree with you Colin everyone who is on benefits should be campaigning for more legislation to be put on tenants like prosecuting those who spend rent money on anything other than rent and they definitely should not be given legal aid to fight against a landlord who is fighting to get their home back and claim for huge damages! The latter being totally unbelievable that this is actually happening it’s disgusting!
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Sally, I’m so so sorry you’re in this predicament. Whilst watching tv recently, the was a prog re tenants and eviction. The guy who was helping was a specialist in difficult evictions. It was on ch5 I think. Don’t know if you’d be able to research it? Worth a try maybe. Good luck.
The one time I gave someone a chance was the last. He filled the bathroom with rubbish, urinated and defecated on the floor. When he ran out of worktop space he pulled out the washing machine and used that. As for the oven; we’ll why would you use a baking tray when the shelves will do? Then there were the many bills, 100’s of mobile SIM cards too.it was a bloody nightmare but thankfully he left.
@Sally7 so sorry this happened to you and many thanks for sharing your experience so others can pick something from it.
My suggestion to LL is ensure you have legal protection on your landlord insurance. It adds extra cost to the policy but you never know when it will come handy.
Landlord insurance with legal protection.
As per DSS , advertise your property as normal , add pre screening questions , if any is on UC or council referral , don’t call them back, ignore the application.
If you choose to shortlist any, do proper reference using a referencing company and request a guarantor. Else ignore the application
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I do not understand how the Govt can pay benefits to someone which includes the rent, the tenant spends the rent money on something else and doesnt pay the LL. The Govt do nothing to the fraudster and by this action is condoning their action. I can smell a rather large rat here.
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this was brought in by the goverment years ago instead of paying the landlord directly. At that point I decided I would never take on H B claiments (as it was then called). The idea was that they would " handle " their own money matters. <. before someone says the landlord can get paid direct now ,this is not totally accurate as it can be vetoed by the tenant
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I know it makes landlords look harsh but you also need to understand that most private landlords have invested life savings into this. Getting the wrong tenant is a nightmare believe me and can bankrupt a landlord. If landlords had more protection against bad tenants you would not have a problem. The likes of Shelter are happy yes happy to see a landlord put into heavy debt because of tenants who have not made rent a priority or wreck the place. Maybe look at both sides of the coin. You are better to apply to the housing association and go on the council list. Or even go on the list for the bigger housing businesses rather than private landlords who have just one or two houses. Tenants have to take their share of the responsibilities of the current situation. Its easy to lay blame the doors of others but this situation you are in is simply because landlords are expected to take the brunt of all a bad tenant can throw at them. Its unaffordable and the sooner Shelter and the government address this the sooner people in your situation will find it easier to rent.
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I have been visiting this site for some time now, and am absolutely dumbfounded by some of the things I have learned. The blame for most of these situations clearly lies with the inept policies of the people running this circus. I mean, does this policy of paying the rent directly to the applicants extend to council-house tenants? I’ll lay money that it doesn’t. Talk about giving the fox the keys to the hen-house. An absolute joke. And, as has been high\lighted previously, why on earth is this mis-appropriation of public money by the tenant not a criminal offence? From where I’m standing, it’s theft, nothing less. If ever there was a case for scrutiny to be applied, I would say it’s here.
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I’m very sorry to hear this, it takes just bad egg & everybody is affected! I am a divorced Women of 39. I don’t drink, smoke have pets or socialise much. I’ve been living in my landlords property’s for 15yrs but unfortunately they are selling up due to retiring. I have epilepsy & get pip (which I manage very well) I also get disability esa. I’ve ALWAYS paid my rent & in fact I fought to get it paid directly to my landlords & use Internet banking for top ups. This year I will be made homeless because no one will give me a chance like my land Lords did all those years ago. The other problem being I can get deposit, rent in advance & References but due to not having much family in this country & the couple I do can not be guarantors. This has basically been the straw that’s broken the camels back. I’ve had to send my Son to live elsewhere so he can study. He was my carer if anything happened I.e get my medication if I feel a seizure coming on. Now I’m alone & soon to be homeless & all because some bad eggs on benefits think their always right & are owed more. I’m completely terrified about being homeless. My culture (Persian) I think doesn’t help. I would probably make a better tenant than some of the working guaranteed people with some of the stories I’ve heard of my landlords! I studied computer programming but my childhood epilepsy came back after the birth of my Son. Hardly the way I saw my life going!
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every thing you say is true ,some on benefits are only concerned about themselves and shafting the landlord . The bad eggs and landlord bashers are making it hard for you
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Thanks. It’s just so unfair. I never thought a female with my education who’s well brought up & well travelled would soon to become homeless. I’ll keep looking but I have to be out right honest about my situation. I just don’t want to have to move across the world & suffer oppression. I don’t know what’s worse!
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