Should I accept a DSS tenant?

claireyfairy_2

Cor blimey!! Being on benefit does not make you a bad tenant. I work with drug users and many are on benefit whilst in treatment, many would make good tenants. Perhaps meet them as an individual and then judge?

baileysbattlebus

jebervic wrote: »

I can't stress how important it is to thoroughly make pre tenancy checks on any prospective tenants, personally I wouldn't take anyone on HB, I would want someone working, I would also want references from previous LL and credit checks, then ask for bank ststements to show how they conduct their account and also to see if they paid their rent on time etc.

I can't stress how important the pre tenancy checks.

Because someone receives HB doesn't mean they are unemployed, anyone on a low income can claim HB.

paintpot

No-one is saying that ALL DSS tenants are bad in the same way that not all non DSS tenants are good. BUT, DSS tenants do come with added problems for landlords and some landlords are not familiar with what those added risks are and then come unstuck due to the lengthy legal process of obtaining possesion, the issues of clawback of benefits, housing issues etc. The OP asked a question and in my opinion has been given a solid and factual answer without anyone bashing DSS tenants for being on benefits.

pcyam

I have nothing against those on DSS, as majority are good tenants and we often hear of the ones which give people who are claiming a bad reputation, but a word of warning, if they are claim housing benefit from the council (I heard) they no longer pay directly towards the estate agent/you if dont have an agent, they now pay to the tenant and it is their responsibility to pay their rent. So I would honestly see and speak to them and make sure their references are proper ones and not ones written by their friends, so previous landlords are good ones to see. HTHs

gottasavecash

I think it's about the person, meet them and do checks.

I claim HB and hopefully LHA in the near future (which in my area is more than HB). I moved in on Income Support and now work part-time getting an element of help with my rent. Paying my rent is my priority, i have a young daughter and we need a roof over our heads so the rent will always be the priority.

There's good and bad, DSS or professional, in every walk of life.

K

earthmother

It has been interesting to read this thread - as a tenant, I never realised there was anything other than personal choice to sway a LLs decision whether to accept HB - never realised there were mortgage requirements etc too, so it does make it more understandable.

I can totally understand the worries LLs have, but would echo the sentiment that you should all consider the people as well as where their money comes from.



I and my family are in the dreaded position of having to find a rented property whilst receiving HB - and it is nigh on impossible, even though we can prove 4 years of impecable rental payments (and all other tenancy issues) whilst receving the benefit. In fact, our current LL wouldn't even know we had two thirds of our rent paid by HB if we didn't tell him - all he ever sees is the monthly rent arrive in his account in one easy lump sum.

But unfortunately, as soon as 'HB' is mentioned, the agents clam up. We claim it not because of a wish not to work, but because of the lack of ability to work - my husband is disabled, and I his full time carer. The fact we also have children just seems to compound their blinkered views

1971rr

I agree,not all DSS tenants are bad.However,I live opposite a house rented out to a mother and 2 teenage girls.They have ruined the peace and quiet of this cul de sac and tomorrow I am beginning a complaint procedure with the council.
The mother and eldest daughter don't seem to work.At the weekends they are in bed until midday with curtains drawn and keep all awake with screaming and boyfriends blasting car horns at all times (11.45pm!!).They have two dogs(one a vicious Staffy) which constantly escape from the open lounge window.Wheelie bins are left out after collection for days.
The garden is full of weeds,grass uncut,hedges not cut,dog mess everywhere.The house looks disgusting and must be filthy inside.I think these were the only "tenants"the landlord could find.
I hope tomorrow to try and find out with the councils help who the landlord is.These people do not deserve to live in a nice area like this and I object to looking at this dump day after day.

fatpig_2

1971rr wrote: »

.These people do not deserve to live in a nice area like this and I object to looking at this dump day after day.

Hyacinth, you're never going to get an invite to their next BBQ with an attitude like that. And then you'll be sorry.

chiefgoobster

1971rr wrote: »

These people do not deserve to live in a nice area like this and I object to looking at this dump day after day.

They should put pond life like this on some remote island (if there were one) in the middle of the North Sea and let 'em get on with it.

clutton_2

i rent half of my properties to working folks and half to those receiving benefits. There is a LOT more admin work to be done to set up a tenancy with benefit folks - and LLs often have to wait 2-3 months before the first penny of rent arrives from the council. This can be a major turn-off to LLS that dont have a sufficient contingency fund.

The admin hoops get more complex and now that cash goes to the tenant and not to the LL it is making it more riskier. I insist on a benefit tenant having two bank accounts, one dedicated to the rent and the other to their personal benefit money - if they wont do this - then i cannot offer them a home - as i cannot risk rent monies being spent on tenants overdrafts.

i take each applicant as they appear and judge each set of circumstances on their own merit.

i will often ask for a guarantor and i am currently pursing an ex-tenants father for over £10k of lost rent and damage on a property i manage for someone else.

Those councils that do offer a Bond or Deposit - always seem to make LLs jump thru so many hoops in terms of having their properties assessed and upgraded and having to have so many "H&S" features installed that some of my rental properties now have better facilities than i have !!

i think it will get worse from tenants points of view - as far as finding landlords who will accept benefit tenants - as i think this new LHA system has been so poorly thought out its bordering on the nightmarish.

My worst tenants have all been in full time work