housing assoc

Smokeyone

I have a house which has been empty for a few months now and my letting agent, although showing a few people around has had no success so far in letting it out. A friend has suggested I look into housing assoc which although he tells me pay a lower rent - they do have long term tenants and look after the house. Has anyone used housing assoc...
Thanks

onetomany

hi i think you still use your letting agengy but you inform them you will acept housing benifet, its the same rules as privite the agency will to spot checks etc, but the positive side is housing beneifiet can be paid direct to letting agency so more rlabile, the pay depends on size of family etc so if you have a 3 bed house and a single mum with one child rented they would pays less then its up to the tenant to make up the difrence hth take care

m_13

It may be that your letting agent is talking about the Housing Association Leasing Scheme.

HALS is a scheme where a Local Housing Association in partnership with the Local Authority manages properties owned by landlords from the Private Sector.

The Independent has an interesting article about HALS here. They call it 'private sector lease scheme' but it's the same thing.

Not all areas run the scheme but if your agent has mentioned it then your area probably does. You need to check if you have a mortgage or leasehold property that you can let to tenants on housing benefit. Many BTL mortgages and leasehold properties state you cannot.

m_13

onetomany wrote: »

hi i think you still use your letting agengy but you inform them you will acept housing benifet, its the same rules as privite the agency will to spot checks etc, but the positive side is housing beneifiet can be paid direct to letting agency so more rlabile, the pay depends on size of family etc so if you have a 3 bed house and a single mum with one child rented they would pays less then its up to the tenant to make up the difrence hth take care

Housing benefit is now paid direct to the tenant and you can only apply to have it paid direct once they are in arrears. This makes things slightly more risky.

socrates

Are talking here about Housing Association or Local Authority two completely different entities.

HA - will give you a list of alterations as long as your arm of what you need to do before they will consider showing tenants around - IMO not an exercise worth doing. Also no need to use an agency you can call them direct.

LA - I have discussed this many times - I do not see why anyone would use an agency (who will charge) when they can call their local private sector leasing team and get tenants directly for nothing.

The point about lenders not accepting benefit claimants as tenants is valid - perhaps an anonymous call to find out what their policy is - is a sensible first move.

LHA - Local Housing Allowance is paid directly to tenants - unless there are extraordinary circumstances with the tenant (alcohol, drug abuse etc.)

Smokeyone

Thank you all for the replies. My agent has no involvement with Housing assoc - he just made it as a suggestion to me as my house has now been empty for two months and I am on a fixed rate mortgage - he already has 70 properties on his books and our local market is flooded with properties to let.
Lots of new build which cannot be sold and have turned into lettings.
If I have the information correct check with my bank first and then the local council !