anyone any ideas where to find dhss housing

sassybooboos

i am a new claimant for income support but trying to find private housing that accept benefits etc.

have looked on local council site but they only have 2 houses.

anyone know any where else i can look

jacklink

i would suggest going to your local housing office, they can give you advise on homes they have for offer but also housing agencys

please remember our government of the day LABOUR hasnt built social housing for approxiamatly 12 years, and there is an estimated 4 million needing homes, with an estimated 5 million by 2011.

Missy_me_3

Hi, I have had to move several times over the last few years and have at times struggled to find housing where DHSS payments are accepted.

Definately like jacklink above has suggested go to your local housing office. In addition, if you are able to drive/walk around your local area looking for posters / boards advertising that the house it available for rent. Also check your local paper you will find many private landlords advertising. Also try local letting agencies, some do take persons on DHSS.

Also speak to the Local Housing Office about rent deposit schemes.

As I am sure you are aware or are likely to discover, many landlords do not like housing benefit claimants as tennants. I have not been put off by this. I have made appointments to view properties that actually stated NO DHSS. I have been sucessful with this twice. So dont necessarily be put off by this. Of course it may not work in with all landlords ...but is definately worth a try. I did this my ommitting to tell them my financial status on my initial phone enquiry. On viewing the house and meeting with the landlord, I explain I am on benefits, but assure them I would look after their house as if it were my own, obviously because I have to live in it. I then explained that by claiming housing benefit I have guaranteed payments of rent to them, and I would request rent is paid direct to them.

In addition, you could try putting accross the point that with the current economic climate/ recession that them looking for tenants that are currently employed and not in receipt of benefits,could be risk, as so few jobs are "recession proof" so at the time of signing the tennancy agreement they are employed, but with no guarantee of not unfortunately being made redundant.

Another factor many landlords favouris a tennant looking to rent their property for a long time. This is another bargaining point that you can use, that you are looking for somewhere to live for xx amount of years.

If you have not rented before, offer personal references from a previous employer, a good friend etc..

As far as obtaining a more secure housing association/council, there is indeed a severe shortage of these and are offered to people on a "priority status" definately add yourself to the list, often people are unaware you can include yourself on housing lists for other areas. The waiting time is often many years. So in the interim private renting maybe your alternative.
Good luck.

DeeDee74

my local housing office ( wales) gives out leflets with all the homes that are currently being advertised in the local paper, thay also have in bold print propertys /landlords that except housing benefit.

good luck dee x