Landlords refuse any benefits claimants

julie777

"Enjoying" a new experience of not being good enough to rent a home!
We have been perfect tenants for 31 years but now we need to downsize we are getting turned down at every turn just because we need to claim benefits.
I know people think we are a drain on the country but as we both have debilitating chronic illness we have no choice but to accept support from the system.
We are now falling down the cracks as it were - not desperate enough to get into the social housing but unable to get private housing either.
We have already given notice on our 3 bedroom house as one son is leaving home( so it would be too expensive to keep it on) , but we could face being homeless very soon.
Rumour has it the council won't help as we do not have young children.
Where will it end?

sniggings

julie777 wrote: »

"Enjoying" a new experience of not being good enough to rent a home!
We have been perfect tenants for 31 years but now we need to downsize we are getting turned down at every turn just because we need to claim benefits.
I know people think we are a drain on the country but as we both have debilitating chronic illness we have no choice but to accept support from the system.
We are now falling down the cracks as it were - not desperate enough to get into the social housing but unable to get private housing either.
We have already given notice on our 3 bedroom house as one son is leaving home( so it would be too expensive to keep it on) , but we could face being homeless very soon.
Rumour has it the council won't help as we do not have young children.
Where will it end?

Depends where you live, whether the council will help, defo worth asking them, see what the criteria is.

You may have a better chance going straight to the those LL that don't use agents, rather than those that use agents. Check the local paper, shop windows etc.

Also worth asking the council/shelter, sometimes they have lists on LL that are happy to rent to claimants.

LittleMax

Don't rule social housing out go and get on the list. Until you ask you don't know what band you will be. Make sure you explain your chronic conditions and get a doctor's letter to back this up.

As for renting privately it is difficult it isn't just agents that put barriers up, we would have gladly rented to benefit claimants but needed mortgage provider permission and it was them that put the restriction on.

franklee

Have you been in the same property the whole time? I ask as you need to check what type of tenancy you have. If it's not an AST then you will have more rights than tenants who take out a new tenancy today and you should not give that up lightly.

Have a look here to start with:
Tenancy rights checker
http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/downloads_and_tools/tenancy_checker

The lot of an assured shorthold tenant is pretty crap, especially as you get older and with the chronic illness. The main thing underlying and AST is that you have practicality no security of tenure.

I'd suggest you need professional advice asap. You should not have just served notice if you have something better than an AST.

[Deleted User]

It is true that claiming benefits can make finding a private rental very difficult, in some areas impossible.

I totally agree.., get yourself on the social housing list. It might come up with something just when you need it. As has been pointed out, private rentals can mean a lot of moving.

I have found approaching LL's personally gets a more sympathetic outlook. I have in the past armed myself with massess of bank statements, my budget and bills, so they can see I am responsible with money and won't fall behind on the rent. I was offered one property that an LA wouldn't have even considered me for (unfortunately it was too late, I'd already signed up for where I am now).

I'd also suggest that you consider areas that aren't too good (sorry). LL's are often less picky about tenants claiming benefits. Unfortunately, this does mean the property will not be in a 'good' area. But a roof is a roof if you have few options.

Is there any way someone would be a guarantor for you? This could help.

Look into the benefits you are claiming. If you are in receipt of DLA, go to a specialist charity (depending on the causes of your disabilities) and make sure you filled them in accurately. Not knowing the significance of my son's toileting difficulties, I noted them on the form, and it put him in a much higher rate of DLA than his brother, who actually is far more affected by his autism. If you could increase your benefits, you might be able to afford to stay where you are for a while longer while looking for a better compromise.

Do you have any relatives or friends living in a cheaper area that might offer cheaper rentals?

CKhalvashi

The issue is Deanna, that a lot of benefit claimants won't know landlords or agents in their local area.

Yes, there are the 'worse' areas, however as a lot of people in London have found, the 'bad' areas are now turning into 'good' areas in a lot of cases, and property prices have shot up, which means in a lot of cases (with the lack of security) having to move and start again somewhere else.

Benefit claimants are being sent to Luton, Birmingham etc, as other areas aren't affordable at all. This is by councils, not only the private sector.

It does, however, mean that those that have low paid jobs in London will be better off not working, which of course may have the opposite effect to what the government actually want.

preciousillusions

Been there, and I sympathise. The only way I've been able to do it is through an agent that was able to put my case across (reliable, responsible, not working because of long term illness, can provide guarantor) to a private landlord but only with very costly fees. I am in Surrey so it is very difficult here. Mostly landlords just don't want to know and others will neglect to upkeep properties and do what they should do just because you are on benefits and so they know you have limited options, as my past landlord did. I wish you luck and hope you will have some success soon!

Caz3121

Given that many landlords may have BTL mortgages that do not allow them to rent to benefits claimants, or insurance policies that do similar, the options become limited.
It is worth checking with your council if they hold a list of landlords that will accept tenants on benefits.

Pixie5740

Not all BTL mortgages have clauses about not letting to people claiming benefits and not all landlords have a mortgage. It's a crackers clause anyway since many people in the UK claim benefits of one sort or another like child benefit, tax credits, state pension, winter fuel allowance as well as Local Housing Allowance. That's a lot of potential tenants to exclude.

OP, do check your tenancy as franklee suggests, get your name down for social housing (you've got to be in it to win it) and if you do need to find another private rental follow Deanna's advice, she had been there done that and got the t-shirt.

Good luck.

princeofpounds

You should definitely speak to the housing office, and also to Shelter's advice line.


http://www.shelter.org.uk/


Many of the landlords who accept benefits tenants now deal directly with the housing offices themselves. They can ring around and try to source a rental for you.


If you don't qualify for social housing, you might qualify for emergency accommodation when you end up near homeless. Then you will be higher priority.

FBaby

Are you actually going to talk to the agents? Many landlords will say 'no benefit claimants' as standard, but for some, this is to avoid those on long term JSA, or single parents, rather than a couple with disability.

If you see a place you like but it says no benefit, go and talk to the agent and ask if they would speak with the landlord about them. Say you have a reference from your current landlord that will show you were long term excellent tenants, say you are prepare to show evidence of financial stability etc... If the place has been advertise for some time with no take up, it might be that the tenant is prepared to lower their expectation and be reassured by your reference. Don't give up.