Private Rental and Housing Benefits

clutton_2

sorry if this goes off thread a bit - patricia - i am a landlady with several excellent HB long term tenants. I know that the current welfare bill allows for all HB to be paid direct to tenants and not landlords from April next year. I have read that "vulnerable" tenants may ask for, and have to be allowed, their rent to go direct to their landlord - do you have any definitions on "vulnerability" please - as all my single parent mums want me to continue getting the rent directly "in case i spend it" ? many thanks

bcljnk

Just to let you know i am in private rented accomadation, my husband works part time, we get a portion of housing benefit towards the rent, like someone else said the amount depends on size of property, if its to big for your needs they wont pay as much as if it is the right size for your needs, also you get an extra bit if you claim DLA
Also visit the council and explain why you need to move, sometimes they can help get you moved quicker into another council house.
I can understand people telling you not to give up a council home, we have been waiting 7 years for one, but you must weigh up the pros ad cons and then decide

Gwenrose

Gorgeous_George wrote: »

You often get more with a private rental.

I provide a cooker, carpets and a freshly decorated house for starters. As I bought the house to let out, providing rent is paid on time, my tenant can stay indefinately (but limited to 12 months contract). I accept that not all LLs are the same.



GG

You are a very nice LL, maybe you could advice on my daughters problem, please see thread just listed 'How to sort rented house'

patricia1066

Hi Clutton
vulnerability assessments can be requested by the claimant, they need to complete the local authority form explaining why they have difficulties in managing their money, eg gambling addiction, and they may be asked to provide evidence of this. If the LHA is higher than the rent then the landlord needs to set up an arrangement to refund the excess.

jessicann

Hello
Thank you everyone! You have all been so helpful!

Could I just confirm what "NO DSS" means in private rental adverts? I know slightly what it is implying, but what does it legally mean as far as trying to rent a private house? Thank you again

clutton_2

"no dss" usually means that a private landlord will not accept a tenant who s/he knows to be in receipt of housing benefit as their sole source of rental money - (as opposed to an employed tenant who will pay rent from his/her salary). MANY Buy-to-let mortgage providers stipulate in their mortgage offers that the landlord cannot rent to those in receipt of HB. Sadlly, offering tenancies to benefit tenants is fraught with administrative difficulties from the landlords point of view.

thanks patricia ""If the LHA is higher than the rent then the landlord needs to set up an arrangement to refund the excess."" - sounds like yet another "heads the local council wins tails the landlord loses" scenario.

i have just had the most insane decision on one of my HB tenants - one of my tenants sons has moved in with her and successfully claimed HB - but has no bank account - so they were sending it to me (as his landlord). I said i did not want it as mum was paying me the full rent. So the council now have stopped paying it me - but are not paying it him (no bank account) - and will not pay it to his mum as rules say that HB cannot be paid to a third party who is not a landlord - so he is entitled but is not getting the money - guess who the tenants blame ? not the council - but me !!!!!!