Self-employed Finding Housing benefits landlords

Caci_2

Hi, I am new to the forum. I have always landed on this site but had not registered until today since I am starting my start-up business. I know there is a lot of related threads about this topic, but my situation is slightly different.

I have just started my business and was registered self-employed yesterday with a business loan and a weekly NEA allowance for 2 years (£260 per month). There is very low repayments in the first year (£0 almost)

I have to find shared accommodation in South West London. The more time I spend on this task the more I am learning that it is impossible to find landlords accepting housing benefits. I have tried everything. It just doesn't WORK! The conversations fail the moment I mention housing benefits and when I ask for the reason they just don't mention it. I can almost hold a conversation a while longer. I have never rented so I am phoning different landlords to try and understand how they think. Apparently tenants on DSS tend to be untrustworthy with the room and there is also the insurance issue. I sense most landlords have different reasons. Ofcourse I am a male, I don't drink (not that I couldn't if the preference requires me just to fit in so be it). I hope that gives you an idea of how very civil I am.

My business is very straight forward. It is software and learning business. It is very healthy so I should be able to cover the rent even without Housing benefits in the initial stages. I am entitled to Housing benefits I just want to use it. I have deposit and 2 month rent and will never be lower than this but improve on it. I will be on housing benefits for less than 3 months while working on a programming project, with enough income whilst.

I am in need of advice about how I might be able to find rent in my situation. I have read that I could not tell my new landlord that I am claiming housing benefits. I don't like this idea. But nothing works thus desperate measures. What are the risks if I pretend? Is this a very risky tactic that I should avoid? Is it fairly common? Clearly I have enough income to cover the rent. Feedback from landlords will be great! What argument should I present when calling these landlords to persuade them into renting? I know there are better ways to approach this but with no experience you can imagine. I have to find rent within 2 weeks’ time.

I am also slightly confused after reading threads here. I understand if I find rent on 1 December and file my claim on this date the first payment I receive will cover the month of December. Am I right? So If I decide to move in and use my money I will recover it when I get paid. Or do I get paid on the 31st December which would cover January.

AdrianC

Think about it from the landlord's angle. He's not desperate for a tenant, any tenant - so he can pick and choose.

He's got somebody knocking (who he's never seen before in his life, don't forget) on his door, who has no proof of earnings, has just launched a new business, so has no reliable income at all bar benefits which won't cover the rent fully, let alone give anything to live off.

Would YOU toss the keys to that person?

Landlords run businesses. They don't provide a social service.

Harsh, yes, but...

You say your business is healthy and you "clearly" have "enough income" - but can you prove that? Do you even KNOW that, or are you just hoping? You say you've just started the business YESTERDAY...

Caci_2

I run a popular mathematics website. I sell advertising on the site and my subscribers pay per month in advance. The income is almost enough to cover the rent at the moment without the benefits or NEA support that I will be recieving. I am building my business around the site. The site has been a 4 year project so it is quite old and with good reputation.

I can't prove it - at least not the proper way. Yes I know it. The income from my site usually goes through Paypal sometimes straight into my bank account and in separate amounts. Although I have just started the business - the site has been earning for sometime and have just converted it into a business. I want to spend 2 months while putting certain changes in place before charging my subscribers twice which will get me off housing benefits.

Bantex_2

Any landlord is interested in what you are earning now, not what you expect in the future.

AdrianC

Caci wrote: »

I can't prove it - at least not the proper way.

Not via tax returns?

Mardle

If your business is online why restrict yourself to South West London? You could think about moving to a cheaper area where your income would cover your rent.

Caci_2

AdrianC wrote: »

Not via tax returns?

I haven't "filed" tax returns since I have just started. I understand I have to wait until the end of the year. I have just been a student so I have never worked before.

Mardle wrote: »

If your business is online why restrict yourself to South West London? You could think about moving to a cheaper area where your income would cover your rent.

I have been awarded NEA in South West London. I think they have to keep track of my business progress, so I am not too sure whether leaving SW London may affect my NEA. Although I have signed off JSA, my JSA adviser has requested that I send records of my business invoices after 1 month and 2 weeks and then after 3 months. I have been told I could send them via the email. It will affect my NEA if I don't. I am assuming if I move I have to use another Job centre, is this true? Can I use the same job centre but use another address while claiming housing benefits?

Can I claim housing benefits anywhere in London? What do I do when moving to place I have never been before? Do I just go to the "local authority" and ask for the form? When claiming online does the form get sent to the right area you're claiming?

AdrianC

Caci wrote: »

I haven't "filed" tax returns since I have just started.

Umm, you just said you'd been doing this for FOUR YEARS, which gave you the track record.

Either you've been making money at it for four years - in which case, you must by law have a history of tax returns reflecing it - or your business is new and you have no track record, in which case we're back to my original reply.

Caci_2

Yes, my business is new but my site is old. This has been a hobby project which has built up traffic over the years. I have no track record. I have just converted the site into a business.

AdrianC

I dunno what you think has made the change to "a business", but I can assure you the tax man thinks "a business" is just about anything you do with the intention of making money. If you were making money at it over that time, you should have provable income. If you weren't, you have no track record.