No DSS?

Chardonnay

Thanks Jowo. I wouldn't lie anyway. Honesty is always the best policy I think.

clutton_2

i myself am in rental now and took my last accounts into the letting agent - but if you are new to self employment you may not be able to do this - the other way would be to find someone who would be prepared to be your guarantor

s/he would have to be working, earning more than enough to pay their own housing costs and yours as well and agree to be fully credit checked...

It is a very serious undertaking to become a guarantor because they could be taken to court for the arrears if the tenant breaches their contract....

The problem with being on LHA is that it is paid 4 weeks in arrears (once the claim is fully authorised) and this means that LLs are often waiting 2 months for the first payment as councils often take weeks to authorise a claim (usually beause prospective tenants have not sent the correct documentation )

If you have enough funds to pay the first months rent, and your LL knows you are on benefit you may be lucky..

But more and more LLs are not taking LHA tenants as the benefit goes directly to the tenant and not the landlord these days....

Sammy85_2

Just be honest about your income from the start. I take each of my tenants on their own merits, not on where their money comes from. The fact you are working should put you in a better position though.

Please whatever you do, dont lie to the LL about your benefits. It could invalidate their insurance should a claim arise and the insurer find out the truth. My insurance has to be notified if i have a tenant in that is claiming benefits and whilst it doesnt cost any extra, the excesses are greater.

System

If its any consolation i'm househunting at the minute and am finding a lot of places ruled out straight away with No DSS (and most of those places want a full background check anyway-so lying is pointless), but keep persevering. Some places will let to DSS but with advance rent, or with a guarantor (something else i lack).

Also on my councils website is a list of all registered landlords-with some on the entries it lists if they take people on benefits-so if your council has one too it maybe be a good way to see in advance.

Chardonnay

Thanks for all your help and advice. And don't worry, I never had any intention of lying. It's always better to be honest and upfront I think.

I will have a look at that council website, so thanks for that.

Fire_Fox

If you are running a business from home this may exclude you from renting many leasehold flats as there are often clauses which prohibit using the property for business purposes.

Blacksheep1979

BASFORDLAD wrote: »

The landlord wouldnt need to know that you are claiming housing benefit!. So no need to mention it to him....

Dishonesty probably isn't the best foundation for any sort of relationship - if you want a landlord to play straight with you then you should play straight with them.

jadex

clutton wrote: »

looking at 6 months of bank statements tells me a lot about how a person lives and whether they can afford to pay the rent

:eek:
do you return the favour

Jowo_2

jadex wrote: »

:eek:
do you return the favour

There's nothing remotely odd about a landlord requesting copies of the prospective tenants bank statements and payslips as part of the screening process to check they are in employment and can manage their personal budget.

No point in offering a tenancy to someone who says they are in employment but can't offer slips or proof of receiving their salary, nor to someone who lives on their overdraft. It may stop them from having a friend or relative pose as their employer to fabricate their salary.

After all, the landlord wants to hand over the key to someone who can manage their money and isn't a liar.

orangeslimes

Jowo wrote: »

There's nothing remotely odd about a landlord requesting copies of the prospective tenants bank statements and payslips as part of the screening process to check they are in employment and can manage their personal budget.

No point in offering a tenancy to someone who says they are in employment but can't offer slips or proof of receiving their salary, nor to someone who lives on their overdraft. It may stop them from having a friend or relative pose as their employer to fabricate their salary.

Payslips = fair enough.
Bank statements I would find a major intrusion of privacy. Why should a potential landlord know how much money I spend in Tesco or Next or wherever?
(also I use several bank accounts so am always close to my overdraft but that doesn't mean I don't have money stashed elsewhere)

But then maybe I have unrealistic ideas, I have never been credit checked ever when renting.

Sorry this isn't relevant to the opening question - I guess the answer is you should just be honest.