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Why don't landlords like DSS?

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brianqq
brianqq Posts: 11 Forumite
in House buying, renting & selling
I do not use housing benefits and just ask this question out of curiosity.

When I look for a place to rent, I see in most ads "NO DSS". I wonder why are landlords reluctant? Isn't the rent guaranteed by the governmental scheme?

I understand that it is better to have a professional tenant rather than an unemployed one, but it should be better in terms of a guaranteed rent, as the government pays it. Or I have misunderstood the whole concept.
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  • comeandgo
    comeandgo Posts: 5,744 Forumite
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    It can be a condition imposed by their insurance.
  • Cakeguts
    Cakeguts Posts: 7,627 Forumite
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    Tenants only get up to a certain amount in housing benefit so a house where the rent is much higher has to have the difference made up by the tenant. You can guess how many tenants actually manage to do this without getting into serious rent arrears.
  • pinklady21
    pinklady21 Posts: 870 Forumite
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    Housing Benefit is not guaranteed to meet the full rent leaving a shortfall that a tenant on a low income may not be able to pay.
  • theartfullodger
    theartfullodger Posts: 14,601 Forumite
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    It is easy to get insurance cover, perhaps a little more expensive.

    DSS was dissolved in 2001. Think you mean HB/LHA tenants. Problem is Mother Theresa keeps cutting back benefits, making it harder to claim, imposing caps.
  • Car1980
    Car1980 Posts: 301 Forumite
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    DSS is in common parlance though, like MOT
  • Silvertabby
    Silvertabby Posts: 9,023 Forumite
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    It's because a minority of DSS recipients have spoilt it for the majority by acting irresponsibly.

    It used to be that housing benefit was paid directly to the landlord. Now, in the interests of treating all people like responsible adults, the benefit is paid to the claimant - who is expected to do the right thing and pass the money to their landlord.

    Unfortunately, a minority of DSS claimants just keep the money for themselves.
  • csgohan4
    csgohan4 Posts: 10,587 Forumite
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    Can't Pay we take it away
    "It is prudent when shopping for something important, not to limit yourself to Pound land/Estate Agents"

    G_M/ Bowlhead99 RIP
  • Mutton_Geoff
    Mutton_Geoff Posts: 3,819 Forumite
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    Silvertabby has hit the nail on the head. I have had several BTLs (all sold now) and generally the letting agents have also recommended I don't touch DSS and they would be the ones with experience in dealing with the fallout.
    Signature on holiday for two weeks
  • Dorian1958
    Dorian1958 Posts: 238 Forumite
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    Depends on which market the landlord is operating in. Some LL's are happy to aim their properties at HB claimants, perhaps in the expectation that their tenants are likely to accept a lower quality standard of accommodation or be so desperate they are unlikely to complain about problems. Not all are like that of course. Other LL will be operating in a market where the rental prices of their properties are clearly above the means of someone who is claiming HB, and to save everyone time they specify "no DSS". At the end of the day the LL is operating a business and assessing the tenant on ability to pay the market rent for the property they are letting.
  • Marvel1
    Marvel1 Posts: 7,172 Forumite
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    They are snobs.

    .........
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