Private Renting

Polka-Dot-Fingers

I'm a single unemployed mum being driven to despair by very unpleasent and rude neighbours.

I would love to rent privately so that I could move quickly, but everywhere I look it's working tenants only - I even have a deposit and approx 6 months rent I could pay in advance.

Can anyone offer me any advice on what I should do?

I don't want to stay here and I'm tired of complaining to the local council who I rent from.

I'm a good honest person who would be a landlords dream tenant, I just need a break.

Flipped27

If you claim housing benefit, you could contact your local council who should have details of landlords who accept HB.....I know how you feel, I have been through the same, BUT there are good landlords out there who accept HB...


Good Luck

aaroncaz

Flipped27 wrote: »

If you claim housing benefit, you could contact your local council who should have details of landlords who accept HB.....I know how you feel, I have been through the same, BUT there are good landlords out there who accept HB...


Good Luck

This happened to me, i contacted social services, who gave me a agent who accepted HB, but the they were charging way too much, hoping to get more HB, than they would pay!! I found it very hard to find somewhere, i did eventually, not through an agent, but wished i hadn't, as my landlord, is a a dodgy sort!! I took the first that accepted me, hang in there, you will find somewhere, but be choosy!!

tweetyshells

How about putting in for an exchange?

Lazy_Runner

Polka-Dot-Fingers wrote: »

I would love to rent privately so that I could move quickly, but everywhere I look it's working tenants only - I even have a deposit and approx 6 months rent I could pay in advance.

What would you do after the 6 months? Would you have been able to save another 6 months worth of rent?
Would you pay the rent from your income?

You are right, landlords love it if you pay the rent in advance. But then they would worry about the 6 months after that.

Good luck!

aaroncaz

Actually i would think again abt giving up your council house/flat, if you did rent privately and something went wrong, you may find the council won't re-house you, as you gave up your house/flat.As someone else mentioned an exchange is a better ideal.

peachespeaches

I sympathise as we have been in a very similar position. We are in a housing association and have gone through all the right channels to report the anti social behaviour of our neighbours which is blighting our lives. We tried to get a transfer, tried to get priority from the council, tried all the other housing associations and also tried to get an exchange. Months later we were in the same position, but then the unpleasantness escalated. I realised it had taken over my life for long enough, so I gave up the tenancy and next week move to a private rent. We dont get HBen so we are in a slightly different position, but its still been financially a struggle.

I have noticed that most of the private rentals Ive looked at say "No DSS". I think its dreadful that they discriminate in this way, because surely once the DSS start paying the HBen (admittedly it takes a while to come through), its as regular as clockwork.

I think you just have to plod on and keep asking when you see a rental if they will accept you. I know exactly what its like to live with antisocial behaviour and I cant tell you what a relief it is to be able to leave this $h*t hole for good.

peachespeaches

Something that has just occurred to me is this: When you approach a private landlord if you have the deposit and the 6 months rent, then just take out the tenancy and start paying yourself THEN apply for housing benefit. If you rent from a private landlord you dont have to have HB paid direct to them*, you can have it paid direct to you and no one would be any the wiser.
*theres an option on the HB form asking how you want it paid if youre not a council tenant.

If you dont go through an agent, many private individuals dont go into all the referencing.

Flipped27

Also a Guarentor (sp) could help?

clutton_2

""If you rent from a private landlord you dont have to have HB paid direct to them*, you can have it paid direct to you and no one would be any the wiser.""

you would need to show the council your tenancy agreement and if it showed 6 months rent and/or deposit had been paid in advance i doubt they would pay HB for you.

thesaint

peachespeaches wrote: »

Something that has just occurred to me is this: When you approach a private landlord if you have the deposit and the 6 months rent, then just take out the tenancy and start paying yourself THEN apply for housing benefit. If you rent from a private landlord you dont have to have HB paid direct to them*, you can have it paid direct to you and no one would be any the wiser.
*theres an option on the HB form asking how you want it paid if youre not a council tenant.

If you dont go through an agent, many private individuals dont go into all the referencing.

I would expect the question "Where do you work" would come up in passing?