Tenant on Housing Benefit

skintandscared_2

She should be ashamed of herself - those poor children :mad:

And why on earth isn't it standard practice that HB is paid directly to the landlord - what else are they entitled to spend it on??!

clutton_2

""And why on earth isn't it standard practice that HB is paid directly to the landlord"

it used to be until 2-3 years ago when the government decided to give a degree of "self determination" to the unemployed. Most Benefit tenants are fine - i have house benefit tenants for years and have only been let down a couple of times.

I is possible to get direct payments to LLs for vulnerable tenants - addicts, mental health sufferers, special needs, etc but "criminal theft" behaviour is not usually included as a vulnerability criteria.

in 2015 (?) it will get even more difficult as all benefits will be paid as one sum to each claimant so i dont think directr payment to LLs will be a part of the system at all then.

mcjordi

theres some really good advice on this thread. clutton seems to know his/her onions..

im on HB atm due to a disability but i get my HB paid straight to the HA as its so easy to be tempted to spend it. I also agree that there are a lot of bad tenants that get HB and spoil it for the honest ones. I knew of one where she ended up owing the HA about £1000 in rent, it went to court she got time to pay and didnt pay a penny then trashed the place.. The new tenants in that house arent perfect but are miles better than the last one..
GOOD LUCK OP...

heathcote123

clutton wrote: »

""
I is possible to get direct payments to LLs for vulnerable tenants - addicts, mental health sufferers, special needs, etc but "criminal theft" behaviour is not usually included as a vulnerability criteria.

QUOTE]

Gambling problems work as well.

It is really daft though, it discourages landlords from taking DSS on, and imho puts tempatation in the way of the !!!!less. (yes, I know that doesnt apply to most hb claimants, just most off them)

heathcote123

btw that was f e c k less, stopid swear filter.

clutton_2

""but i get my HB paid straight to the HA""

when the 2004 Act was in preparation it was decided that direct HB payment to tenants was not going to apply to Housing Association landlords....

discriminatory against private landlords ? you bet......


""though, it discourages landlords from taking DSS on""

that is so true... the National Landlords Association publish their regular questionaire results concerning landlords' experiences of arrears , (increasing) and the number of landlords who are stopping offering tenancies to [EMAIL="H@B"]HB[/EMAIL] tenants (decreasing) ...

this was a Dreadfull ill thought out policy

Grant Shapps is "looking at it" - the opposite front bench housing spokeswomen is UTTERLY silent most of the time.....

jungle_jane

Sue, i have recently obtained Permission to Let for my place...be prepared that it may cost you money (£295 from Santander for example) and also, they sometimes have terms and conditions. Woolwich for example will not let you lend to HB or students. you may want to call your mortgage providers (don't identify yourself though) and find out their criteria in advance.

the other thing is that the estate agents don't check your Permission to Let (well mine didn't) . that is your responsibility and is a between you and your bank. They do have to check EPC...and some won't market your place before they have seen it....

mcjordi

clutton wrote: »

""but i get my HB paid straight to the HA""

when the 2004 Act was in preparation it was decided that direct HB payment to tenants was not going to apply to Housing Association landlords....

discriminatory against private landlords ? you bet......


""though, it discourages landlords from taking DSS on""

that is so true... the National Landlords Association publish their regular questionaire results concerning landlords' experiences of arrears , (increasing) and the number of landlords who are stopping offering tenancies to [EMAIL="H@B"]HB[/EMAIL] tenants (decreasing) ...

this was a Dreadfull ill thought out policy

Grant Shapps is "looking at it" - the opposite front bench housing spokeswomen is UTTERLY silent most of the time.....

i actually got a form from the county council asking what i prefered to do paid to me or paid direct..

clutton_2

mc- either you applied a long time ago, or the council were using old forms. Trust me.. the law now says, and has done for 2-3 years, that HB IS ALWAYS paid direct to tenants, unless a vulnerability claim is submitted.

mcjordi

clutton wrote: »

mc- either you applied a long time ago, or the council were using old forms. Trust me.. the law now says, and has done for 2-3 years, that HB IS ALWAYS paid direct to tenants, unless a vulnerability claim is submitted.

ahh fair enough.. but when i do get chance to work i used to close the claim and pay normal rent then when i couldnt work re just re opened the claim so only had to fill in the 1/2 forms back in 2004 never had to since..

that law needs to change then.. as a lot of people claiming would spend it on other things i know i would be tempted.. so if i was ever in the posistion of making a new claim i would insist it goes direct to landlord/HA/council..