Hosuing benefits

kentguy07

I am currently on housing benefits which just about covers my 3rd of the rent each month. Due to a relationship breakdown I need to leave so I applied to go on the housing list and I got 20 points and been put down for a 1 bed room place.

Looked all around at the houses you can bid on and I cant get my head around it.

there are not many 1 bed roomed places and the ones that are ,are in places like singleton which has a big crime and drug problems.
not complaining but If I live there I am sure I would end up getting harmed because I am transsexual.

iv looked in to private renting ,most places wont take dss other places are to expensive and the council are putting the rent allowance down soon because of the raise in age limit or something a long those lines.

apparently the rate of housing allowance I am on now the age is going up to 35 thus they expect you to find a place for £250 a month.

Iv been applying for jobs left right and centre so I can afford some where but its hard to get work in this climate and even harder when your transsexual

peainapod

When an ad says No DSS always ring up and ask. I saw a house when I was moving that was ideal for me and my 2 girls, near to my family etc but the ad said no dss (which really annoys me, I know that there is a lot of people who get hb and mess their landlords around but I'm sick of being painted with the same brush) so I rang them up and said look I get hb but I've got good references AND I can provide a guarantor. I'm very responsible with my money now that I have children and was determined to get that house ! I asked my dad to act as guarantor for me and after he went in and signed etc they were happy to accept me with hb.
Do you have someone who knows and trusts you that would be willing to act as guarantor ? Do you have good references ? If you don't then always give them a ring if it says no dss, you never know, ask them if you could come in and meet them, make a good impression and they could well change their mind. With the house before that he didn't even ask for guarantor or references (private landlord, not very common unless you know one, or know someone who knows one), I just asked to meet him and he could see that I didn't seem like the kind of person that would mess him around.
I know what you mean about not wanting to live in certain areas, I don't agree with people who say you're getting a house and your rent paid take what you're given especially when it comes to your personal safety but if all else fails then you may have to. I hope that you can sort out something better for yourself though. Good luck with it all, keep updating us ! I'm a Swansea girl too ! lol

kentguy07

Thanks I will give that a try. It gets to me too when they say no dss because not all people are bad with money or mess people around. Iv always paid on time.
I have friends who would be referrences and possibly my old landlady however Iv changed my name to a girls name and my landlady knows me by my old name.

I will sort something out. If needbe I have a friend from Scotland who offered me their spare room.

kentguy07

Quick question If I found a place to rent in Scotland and moved to Scotland would I have to re apply for income support & disability? would I get less if I moved elsewhere?

Just seem some lovely 1 bed roomed places in Scotland and its much cheaper to rent up there then it is down here.

Hovel_lady

As far as I know benefits rates are the same in Scotland. You'd just need to inform them of your change of address.
Good luck xx

poppasmurf_bewdley

Why do you have to tell any landlord that you are in receipt of housing benefits? Isn't the benefit paid directly to yourself, and you pay the Landlord?

kentguy07

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

Why do you have to tell any landlord that you are in receipt of housing benefits? Isn't the benefit paid directly to yourself, and you pay the Landlord?

Yep but they want contact details of your landlord "the council that is" and I believe they get in touch with the landlord.

Iv seen a lovely little place down in Scotland. 3 miles from transport & tesco etc. So many nice little places around up there.

poppasmurf_bewdley

kentguy07 wrote: »

Yep but they want contact details of your landlord "the council that is" and I believe they get in touch with the landlord.

Iv seen a lovely little place down in Scotland. 3 miles from transport & tesco etc. So many nice little places around up there.

No they don't. They can't without your express permission, and there is usually no reason for them to do so. The only exception is if they suspect fraud.

Anubis_2

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

No they don't. They can't without your express permission, and there is usually no reason for them to do so. The only exception is if they suspect fraud.

They do contact your landlord and you do have to supply that information, otherwise people could rent off their friends and relatives without issues! They have always contacted the Landlord. I started my private tenancy 15 years ago and they even contacted my Lanlord then.

Why some don't want DSS is to avoid paying TAX because they are contacted and then they are placed in the system, so tax fraud is hard for them to get away with.

nannytone_2

the reason some landlords say no DSS is because it can have insurance implications.

if the rents are that much lower in Scotland, be aware that the LHA rates will also be lower to reflect this.

Oldernotwiser

kentguy07 wrote: »

Iv seen a lovely little place down in Scotland. 3 miles from transport & tesco etc. So many nice little places around up there.

Living in a lovely little town in Scotland isn't going to make getting a job any easier and I can't believe that a small Scottish town is going to be more tolerant of you as a transsexual than an urban area in the south east of England, particularly as you'll have to deal with anti English sentiments as well.

I think you're going to be shooting yourself in the foot by looking at this sort of move, I'm afraid.