Landlords refuse any benefits claimants

vansboy

Have a look through http://www.homeless.org.uk/
See where there are any support agencies in your area, you may actually be surprised how many landlords DO prefer tenants on benefits.

There will be those who only deal with lower quality properties (feeling this is acceptable to 'desperate' people), but some more professional landlords may have an assortment of property/tenant mix and would be more than prepared to offer their 'better' properties to someone like yourselves. Especialy with your track record and if your able to have the rent safeguarded, (the support agency could help to agree this with landlord/local authority/benefits agency, on your behalf) so the monies are paid directly to landlord, even better still.

VB

HappyMJ

vansboy wrote: »

Have a look through http://www.homeless.org.uk/
See where there are any support agencies in your area, you may actually be surprised how many landlords DO prefer tenants on benefits.

There will be those who only deal with lower quality properties (feeling this is acceptable to 'desperate' people), but some more professional landlords may have an assortment of property/tenant mix and would be more than prepared to offer their 'better' properties to someone like yourselves. Especialy with your track record and if your able to have the rent safeguarded, (the support agency could help to agree this with landlord/local authority/benefits agency, on your behalf) so the monies are paid directly to landlord, even better still.

VB

There is no way at all ever as a landlord that I would accept payment of the rent directly from the local authority. That would be an instant decline and if a current tenant tried that they'd be getting a section 21 notice. I accept tenants on partial housing benefit if they are working and can afford the rent without the housing benefit but just happen to be entitled to some housing benefit. I'll just ignore the potential housing benefit payment when figuring out if they can afford the rent. To rent my 3 bedroom house at £600 per month you'd need to have £18,000 of income from guaranteed sources such as a pension including a disability pension or from income from employment and benefit payments such as tax credits excluding housing benefit or have savings to pay the rent.

I don't accept direct payments due to possible fraud by the tenant...maybe they are better-no longer disabled- don't tell the local authority for well over a year or two, then one day they are then found out and that would require the landlord to repay everything. Far too much risk. If the tenant is given the HB payments and pays the rent with that the landlord is never responsible for repayment even if the money was fraudulently obtained.

GwylimT

cattermole wrote: »

I have successfully argued in the past on behalf of my daughter that it is Discrimination on behalf of the Agents if they exclude you from renting when you are unable to work because of severe disability and therefore have no choice but to claim benefits.

Agents also have a duty to work with the Equality Act 2010 the same as anyone else does.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/discrimination/about-discrimination/equality-act-2010-discrimination-and-your-rights/

It means that they have to make reasonable adjustments, therefore excluding someone from renting when they are disabled and have no choice but to claim housing benefits would be discrimination. As disability is a protected characteristic. As long as you can demonstrate you can pay the rent with your benefits if you have a disability this should not exclude you from renting.

A larger Agency would probably take it on board if it was pointed out to them, if they didn't except it verbally a letter might do the trick.

I wouldn't rent to her as my mortgage and insurance do not allow it, no matter how many letters she sent. The equality act also does not apply where lenders do not give permission for tenants who claim certain benefts.

mrginge

GwylimT wrote: »

....The equality act also does not apply where lenders do not give permission for tenants who claim certain benefts.

I am surprised that a commercial organisation can impose restrictions on their customers that has the effect of over-riding the customers legal requirements.

I would love to see the evidence for this as it looks like an excellent loophole.

Does this mean I can employ an individual through my company and in their contract of employment, put a condition in there that they are not allowed to deal with certain 'types' of people?

csgohan4

cattermole wrote: »

I have successfully argued in the past on behalf of my daughter that it is Discrimination on behalf of the Agents if they exclude you from renting when you are unable to work because of severe disability and therefore have no choice but to claim benefits.

Agents also have a duty to work with the Equality Act 2010 the same as anyone else does.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/discrimination/about-discrimination/equality-act-2010-discrimination-and-your-rights/

It means that they have to make reasonable adjustments, therefore excluding someone from renting when they are disabled and have no choice but to claim housing benefits would be discrimination. As disability is a protected characteristic. As long as you can demonstrate you can pay the rent with your benefits if you have a disability this should not exclude you from renting.

A larger Agency would probably take it on board if it was pointed out to them, if they didn't except it verbally a letter might do the trick.

Are you going to cough up for the increased costs of home insurance for renting to benefit claimants?

Potential issues with mortgage lenders refusing? Are you going to sue the mortgage lenders?


Forcing yourself onto landlords and putting them in a difficult position will make your tenancy short if at all you get one. It certainly is not the best way to start a landlord tenant relationship. I bet the landlord will be extremely section 21 trigger happy at the sign of trouble.

Not understanding why landlords don't or rather can't rent to benefit claimants is perhaps important before jumping on the equality act and bashing landlords.

GwylimT

mrginge wrote: »

I am surprised that a commercial organisation can impose restrictions on their customers that has the effect of over-riding the customers legal requirements.

I would love to see the evidence for this as it looks like an excellent loophole.

Does this mean I can employ an individual through my company and in their contract of employment, put a condition in there that they are not allowed to deal with certain 'types' of people?

Not being able to rent a certain home does not override a persons legal requirements, which is why mortgages are allowed to exist otherwise legal requirements would mean lenders had to say yes. It is also why we can have homes with age restrictions, restrictions that don't allow children and restrictions that don't allow renters at all.

You can actually, many businesses restrict clients on age, otherw on gender.

csgohan4

mrginge wrote: »

I am surprised that a commercial organisation can impose restrictions on their customers that has the effect of over-riding the customers legal requirements.

I would love to see the evidence for this as it looks like an excellent loophole.

Does this mean I can employ an individual through my company and in their contract of employment, put a condition in there that they are not allowed to deal with certain 'types' of people?

Not to mention a requirement for lenders to have home insurance. So a double commericial discrimination.

mrginge

GwylimT wrote: »

Not being able to rent a certain home does not override a persons legal requirements, which is why mortgages are allowed to exist otherwise legal requirements would mean lenders had to say yes. It is also why we can have homes with age restrictions, restrictions that don't allow children and restrictions that don't allow renters at all.

You can actually, many businesses restrict clients on age, otherw on gender.

Yes I have a good understand of objective justification. I wasn't aware though that such a defence would be valid for cases such as this. Please can you provide your evidence.

edgex

HappyMJ wrote: »

There is no way at all ever as a landlord that I would accept payment of the rent directly from the local authority. That would be an instant decline and if a current tenant tried that they'd be getting a section 21 notice. I accept tenants on partial housing benefit if they are working and can afford the rent without the housing benefit but just happen to be entitled to some housing benefit. I'll just ignore the potential housing benefit payment when figuring out if they can afford the rent. To rent my 3 bedroom house at £600 per month you'd need to have £18,000 of income from guaranteed sources such as a pension including a disability pension or from income from employment and benefit payments such as tax credits excluding housing benefit or have savings to pay the rent.

I don't accept direct payments due to possible fraud by the tenant...maybe they are better-no longer disabled- don't tell the local authority for well over a year or two, then one day they are then found out and that would require the landlord to repay everything. Far too much risk. If the tenant is given the HB payments and pays the rent with that the landlord is never responsible for repayment even if the money was fraudulently obtained.

Tax credits are being cut, & are in reality a benefit
Do you also insist that they are in full-time jobs with at least a months notice?

A tenant could cover a month of your rent using a years child benefit & you wouldnt know. That benefit is only 'guaranteed' for as long as the gov dosnt change it, or the child dies!

Floxxie

This article is written for the NI market, but the same principles (and laws) apply for England and Wales: http://housingrights.org.uk/news/can-landlords-lawfully-turn-away-tenants-housing-benefit