I'm going to buy a ski lodge.......

AlexLK

daisystar wrote: »

Ah yes, you are right the tenants can indeed request direct payment however it doesn't change the fact that the amount given for a 3 bed wouldn't cover the rent we charge - and this would stop us from letting to the council too. I appreciate you thinking about this though!

We are accidental landlords, and it has been a steep learning curve! However we have in the past taken measures to ensure security of topping up via homeowner guarantors, and going through credit checks/references with a fine tooth comb. Our last tenants were great and left as they were buying a house - we were gutted and panicked due to our circumstances, hence the current issues :eek: So the plan is keep our heads firmly screwed on this time


Do you have magical psychic powers?! My baby is due in 2 weeks - we don't know if its a boy.........do you?!

Sounds like you are taking some good steps. I have to say first impressions count for a lot when renting a house to somebody.

You mentioned something about "DS", which I presumed to mean Darling(?) Son, therefore thought you were having a boy. Not psychic, I'm afraid.

daisystar

AlexLK wrote: »

Sounds like you are taking some good steps. I have to say first impressions count for a lot when renting a house to somebody.

You mentioned something about "DS", which I presumed to mean Darling(?) Son, therefore thought you were having a boy. Not psychic, I'm afraid.

Yep - DS does mean Darling Son, and I mentioned him as it was his due date when our last tenants left. This one is still known as 'baby' - for now! However you've now joined a loooong list of people calling it a boy We'll find out very soon.......:)

AlexLK

I've realised from the post on my diary that you already have a son, sorry. How old is he? I presume you are perhaps hoping for a daughter this time, complete the set as it were!

daisystar

AlexLK wrote: »

I've realised from the post on my diary that you already have a son, sorry. How old is he? I presume you are perhaps hoping for a daughter this time, complete the set as it were!

Aww no I honestly don't mind again this time, perhaps because I want 3 little ones so don't feel any pressure!! I just can't wait to find out now DS is 2 so it's going to be a busy old time very soon

Eager_Elephant

Hi daisy

I work with Housing Benefit tenants to ensure their rent is paid and they are not evicted - if you have any questions give me a shout.

I appreciate Alex's comments to steer away from HB tenants if possible but what happens if you have working tenants who lose their jobs etc.
I also know some tenants who have lied and said they weren't on benefits to be able to rent - it just does not help anyone.

What is the difference in the amount of HB v rent? (Does your tenant meet the requirement for 3 bedrooms?)

In the past I have encouraged my clients to pay their rent weekly - letting agents hate it because it causes more work but at the end of the day would they rather have some money or not.

Most people who have children and are benefits get Tax Credits weekly and other benefits fortnightly so I always get them to set up standing orders so the money is taken before they wake up and go to the bank.
I also find I have to speak to landlords to explain how HB works but once we all know where we stand it works brilliantly.

Clients that I work with (private and council tenant) are always shocked at how easy it is to pay rent by s/o and always say they wish someone had told them years ago to do things like that.
(Obviously in an ideal world they would save money weekly and then pay rent monthly but this doesn't happen so why not make life easier for them?)

I am able to help with safeguarding of HB - every council can safeguard - this is even if they are not 8 weeks in arrears. As long as there is a risk of them not paying rent for financial reasons they will pay directly to landlord.

I know you said telling the council if a tenant is 8 weeks in arrears is pointless as they don't give you the money for that period but the point of it is to make sure you get all the HB in future which is much better to get some of the rent instead of none.

AlexLK

Elephant: Daisy has admitted to being an accidental landlord, it is in my opinion that she should try (if possible) to let to straight forward tenants, housing benefit tenants I do not count as so. A change of circumstances half way through the tenancy is a different matter but to take on a housing benefits claimant from day one without knowing all the ins and outs is unwise at best.

With all due respect, you work to safeguard claimants and to hopefully get them to pay their rent on time. I, on the other hand, have BTL experience as a landlord. Therefore, it is my opinion that Daisy (who is not trying to build a portfolio) should stay as far away from complicated tenants as she possibly can.

Eager_Elephant

Sorry I should have clarified that I deal with anyone facing homelessness - this is benefit claimants and workers (no HB).

I would say the majority of people I see do not claim HB and work and have a very good income but do not see the priority of rent above all other debt.

I think we could get in to quite a debate about it especially as we are from different view points.

I can see from Daisy's point of view that she wants the tenant out asap due to the rent not being paid but on the other hand I can see a family becoming homeless.

I would suggest that Daisy speak to her tenant and ask her to visit Housing Options or HOmelessness Prevention at her Local Authority. They should be able to work with both Daisy and her tenant to address the issues.
I am not saying longer term the tenant should stay in a house she can't afford but that the LA will work with the tenant to find her more suitable accomodation and until that time she needs a roof over her head.
LA's also have Discretionary HOusing Payment which is a pot of money from the Government to help people with a housing need - I would say that needing to downsize due to a change of circumstances would qualify and they may help the tenant cover all the rent especially if she works with the LA to downsize.

I find the hardest landlords to deal with the accidental ones as they expect the earth but arent prepared to give and take a little - I am not saying Daisy is like this at all but I think Daisy needs to speak to other landlords as at the moment she only has your view point.

I do agree though, while she is days away from having a baby she needs as little stress as possible.

My LA run information evenings for landlords to better understand benefits (including HB) and also what help is available to landlords etc. This works very well and a lot of landlords only rent to HB tenants.

daisystar

Thanks guys, I really appreciate any input into my diary and any advice that someone has taken the time to give - I ALS appreciate there are vastly differing viewpoints on this particular issue

EE - thank you so much for your advice. I genuinely hope my tenant does find someone such as you to help her understand and find a way through this, and if we can resolve it so they don't have to leave then we will. However, there is a 2 year history with this family as tenants which I haven't and won't fully go into, but what it means is that for us it does feel like this may well be the end of the line with them. Your suggestions all make sense, and we have already put most of these measure in place. Payments are made to us every fortnight rather than every month and we are in frequent communication with them, although it has felt like a one way street at times as they continually fail to communicate with us unless it's for their own gains.

I probably sound completely heartless talking about giving notice and eviction but we really have done so much guiding, suggesting and handholding and catering to their every complaint with no hesitation. The initial notice will give them time to bring their arrears back up to date and to demonstrate how they can meet the rental amount if they choose to try to remain in the house. It will also point them to the departments you mentioned for the appropriate support. The difference between HB and rent comes to nearly £200pm, so I'm guessing they will not be able to prove they can make this payment, in which case very sadly they will have to leave, but I'm aware they will be advised they should stay until the council finds alternative accommodation, and we will not be sending the heavies in to turf them out or anything. However, we will be chasing the council at this point to ensure they are working to find them another more affordable property. Again, I am aware this sounds harsh but as I've said there is a huge history here.

Also don't worry, although I'm not speaking to many LL's on here - and to be honest I didn't expect to go into this much detail about it on my diary - I am speaking to plenty of people in 'real life', and I've also made it my business to learn as much as possible as I've been going along. Thank you so much for your input though, I hope you don't feel like I'm disregarding it, we've just already put much of it in place to little or no avail

Alex - I completely understand where you are coming from with regard to HB tenants, however apart from these guys our worst tenants were actually working - they were complete stoners who gathered a menagerie of animals without telling us, including a snake that they claimed was more 'ornament than animal' :eek: and got up to various things in the bedrooms which involved wax on all four walls and the ceiling!! :eek::eek: So we will consider all applications next time but like I've said we will choose carefully and include a homeowner guarantor as an essential.

Right, enough BTL chat, I'm off to look after my poorly boy and build a crib for the new babba with DH x

Buffythedebtslayer

hey Daisy XXX


You know a number of years ago I could have borrowed a ton of money and done buy to let.


so glad I didn't!


hope you are resting up and as prepared as you can be
XXX

daisystar

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

hey Daisy XXX


You know a number of years ago I could have borrowed a ton of money and done buy to let.


so glad I didn't!


hope you are resting up and as prepared as you can be
XXX

I'll bet!! Thanks for popping in, and yes I'm trying to get some rest, resting and chocolate is my evening routine at the minute!