what does no dhss usually mean?

eckythump

I am presently looking to rent a house/flat.
can some one clarify what no dhss usually means,would this include someone who works part time but will get a small amount of housing benefit(lha?) ?

Jowo_2

Highly likely but it might be worth you checking if you get a modest top up.

No DSS/DHSS is the department (now DWP) that used to administer Housing Benefit (now local housing allowance).

detroidam

DHSS doesn't exist anymore and hasn't for over 10 years.

McKneff

detroidam wrote: »

DHSS doesn't exist anymore and hasn't for over 10 years.

I think we all know what they mean though, bit picky there dont you think, certainly not helpful

for future references its the Dept for Work and Pensions (DWP)

eckythump

detroidam wrote: »

DHSS doesn't exist anymore and hasn't for over 10 years.

That's why I questioned what it actually meant in real terms as I have just viewed details for at least 20 properties that said that exact phrase.

Red_Cat

Some people (your potential landlords or letting agents) need to realise it's 2010.

Jowo_2

Yeah, but since these landlords evidently haven't taken on any tenants that claim benefits, they wouldn't know about the changes...

Saffy255

Thing that you need to realise though, is that Housing Benefit now gets paid directly to you as the tenant, so if you have a little money set aside to enable you to pay the whole rent until HB pays up (it CAN take them 13 weeks to process) then your landlord may never have to know that you're on HB - you get the HB and pay it to him.

G_M

Saffy255 wrote: »

Thing that you need to realise though, is that Housing Benefit now gets paid directly to you as the tenant, so if you have a little money set aside to enable you to pay the whole rent until HB pays up (it CAN take them 13 weeks to process) then your landlord may never have to know that you're on HB - you get the HB and pay it to him.

Except that the LL who stipulates 'no DHSS' is almost certainly going to be looking for proof of income, ie via employer's references.

chewmylegoff

G_M wrote: »

Except that the LL who stipulates 'no DHSS' is almost certainly going to be looking for proof of income, ie via employer's references.

yep. as a rule of thumb your gross salary needs to be 2.5x the rent (at least this is the approx measure used by the credit checking agencies that letting agencies outsource to, although it will vary from place to place).

patman99

I can fully understand the 'no DSS/DHSS/DWP/HB' clauses. I have a friend who was approached by a local council to provide housing to the unemployed. The first tenants caused £2.5k worth of damage, the 2nd caused £3k worth. the council refused to pay more than £600 towards the cost of repairs until his solicitor b-i-l got involved.

When you have tenants on HB, you are no longer assured of getting your rent as a good deal of them use the cash for other things.