Homeless Dilemma. Help.

NYM

BigAunty hasn't mis-remembered. You did claim that you lived in an .... ''expensive' area in London...' albeit in a '..poorer part..' and in another, you stated that your borough has the cheapest CT in the country. I think it would be easy to guess your location.

Clearly rents in that area are astronomically high. You need to be realistic regarding social housing.

If you can find a LL willing to offer you a place in an area you would like to live it might be the best option open to you.

Rollingstart

Sorry I can't help you but I just wanted to say that I can't believe I'm still hearing all this No DHSS business in 2015. It's clear discrimination.

I had a lot of problems with it about fifteen years ago whilst out of work, I'm surprised that it's being applied to people working full time as you'd think that would reassure them.

It's ridiculous that you can have an immaculate record of rental payments going back 5 years as I did, great references, the deposit and the first months rent and they still won't let the property out to you.

It's about time someone took one of these landlords to court over it and tried to get the law changed. I'm surprised this hasn't been done by now.

pathtofreedom

Rollingstart wrote: »

It's about time someone took one of these landlords to court over it and tried to get the law changed. I'm surprised this hasn't been done by now.

It isn't the landlords as such, the btl mortgage companies and landlord insurance companies include clauses saying no dss. Unless they get a mortage and insurace without the clause, or own outright and again insurance without the clause, the they have no other options really.

Rollingstart

pathtofreedom wrote: »

It isn't the landlords as such, the btl mortgage companies and landlord insurance companies include clauses saying no dss. Unless they get a mortage and insurace without the clause, or own outright and again insurance without the clause, the they have no other options really.

That in a sense is even worse, as they're normally large companies.

The point about insurance is a bit moot though as unlike car insurance, it's not mandatory.

[Deleted User]

Rollingstart wrote: »

That in a sense is even worse, as they're normally large companies.

The point about insurance is a bit moot though as unlike car insurance, it's not mandatory.

I do sympathise with the no DSS on rentals.If the council paid the HB straight to the landlord this might ease the situation.

Insurance is not mandatory but if the tenant burns the place down or trashes it etc the landlord may have an issue....

Murphybear

The problem is that landlords can reject any applicant and there is very little comeback unless the applicant can show there is discrimination on legal grounds such as race.

When the landlords say "no DSS" what they really mean is "no unemployed", there is quite a difference. With so many people looking for rentals they can afford to be choosy especially if the property is half decent with affordable rent.

The problem with LHA is that it is paid in arrears and can be stopped rather too easily leaving the landlord with rent arrears. This may not be a problem if the LL owns the property outright but if there is a mortgage that is not being paid due to rent arrears then having a tenant does not stop repossession in which case the tenant can quickly become homeless.

I am not sure how the "no DSS" rule by the insurance companies or mortgage givers would stand up in court if challenged because if a tenant who is working loses their job and has to claim HB/LHA then they cannot be evicted on those grounds.

I would like to point out that both rent arrears and trashing the property is not restricted to benefit tenants, it can happen with working ones as well. Fortunately there are far more good tenants than there are bad ones (and this applies to LLs as well:A)

[Deleted User]

bloolagoon wrote: »

You are not going to get cheaper in CL! I have friends who work and live in CL and waiting lists for SH is years. One friend has a family placed 125 miles awa in emergency housing from school friends and work.

I think gambling on your Childs education and your employment with odds of getting SH is not wise. Just my opinion.

So what am I supposed to do if the private landlords aren't accepting me?

[Deleted User]

BigAunty wrote: »

I apologise again for mis-remembering your location.

However, London is one of the most expensive cities in the world. The changes to benefits have been made over many years and it has led to an exodus of people who leave the city, either forced out by benefit cuts (HB in particular) or of their own volition to improve the quality of their life.

You have social networks, your child is enrolled in school and you have work locally but every year, hundreds of thousands of households move out of the area they live in for a host of reasons and start new jobs, live in new places, find new friends and new schools. You hold another nationality along with your dual citizenship so you've actually upped and moved from another part of the world - shifting a county or two shouldn't be difficult.

Compared to the others that you think get a free ride at the taxpayers expense, you are a hard worker. However, you work part time in a low paid role. Realistically, London is either not going to be a long-term solution for you or it will continue to be a hardslog. It can be a cruel place for a low paid worker or person dependent on benefits.

I am now full time employee as a teaching assistant. Yes low paid but this is another thread.

[Deleted User]

*****When the landlords say "no DSS" what they really mean is "no unemployed*****

This hasn't been my experience.
I humiliated myself every time I went to see a property. I take employment contract, payslips, bank statement, landlord's reference, benefits award letters. I tell them I will pay everything in advance and my credit is clean, they can check.
Still no luck.

[Deleted User]

I am very sorry you are in this situation. I am too (but in an area outside London, but rents have gone up by large amounts because people from London are moving here, LHA hasn't gone up at all).

My LL is selling my place. Not a good LL for reasons given in other posts.., but am in same situation. Only managed to find this place by the skin of my teeth four years ago.., now I have no hope.

But I am lucky, because I have gotten some help and it sounds like I will be able to get social housing - but this is very unusual (still can't quite believe it). I would have had no choice but to go into B&B 12 miles away with two children with special needs to get to schools 12 miles away every day - obviously that can't be done as the schools are some distance apart.

The problem at the moment is you don't know what will happen if you have no choice but to go into social housing. Contact your MP or Councillor urgently. Get them to clarify the situation for you so at least you know what will happen. Most councils are supposed to only be allowed to leave you in B&B for eight weeks, then they have to find you some kind of emergency housing. But I am not sure if all councils actually do this. My council told me I'd be in B&B miles away for eight weeks, then they'd place me in a one bed flat because that is all they have! In spite of me saying that because I had two special needs kids, that wouldn't work at all.

Clarify what will happen. I wish you all the best. PM me if you want.