Private Renting and "No DSS"

Ryse

I'm new to renting and am unemployed and get benefits. Unfortunately most landlords have put "no dss" for their properties. I'm wondering how they enforce this? What power do they have to check if someone who says their employed is employed?

anselld

Referencing includes employment references, payslips etc.

Mrs36

Any landlord worth their salt would reference their tenants, including an employer reference. I suspect that is where your plan would slip up.

Pixie5740

With the exception of Northern Ireland the Department for Social Security was dissolved in 2002. Lots of people claim benefits, housing benefit, child benefit, child tax credits, working tax credits, state pension, the list goes on. I suppose they usually mean housing benefit when they say no DSS otherwise they'd be ruling out most of the population but not everyone who claims HB is out of work or gets the full whack.

In answer to your question it would most likely be flagged up during referencing. Your council should have a list of landlords who are open to letting to those claiming housing benefit. If you can provide a guarantor that could persuade some others to let to you as well.

cashbackproblems

Maybe get a job? I would not let any dss into my property either

carslet

Problem is there are a lot of DHSS tenants who just sometimes don't bother to pay for the odd month and there is not a lot a landlord can do about it

I know of people just stopping paying after a few months and they are hard to evict

So can't really blame the landlord can you

Can you not ask to get the rent paid direct to the LL that might help

lush_walrus

We don't accept unemployed people, only those with current employment references.

Victor_the_Gink

carslet wrote: »

Problem is there are a lot of DHSS tenants who just sometimes don't bother to pay for the odd month and there is not a lot a landlord can do about it

I know of people just stopping paying after a few months and they are hard to evict

So can't really blame the landlord can you

Can you not ask to get the rent paid direct to the LL that might help

What is DHSS? Don't think we have them in Bristol.

wantonnoodle

Victor_the_Gink wrote: »

What is DHSS? Don't think we have them in Bristol.

DHSS was the Department for Housing and Social Security
DSS was the Department for Social Security.

They were both old names for the DWP (Department for work and pensions) the government department responsible for paying most benefits.

Even though the names are obsolete, to most people of a certain age, they became synonymous with the unemployed and those on low wages claiming income support, housing benefit etc.

pinkshoes

If a LL has a mortgage, then their mortgage company will have a term not allowing DHSS tenants.

It is deemed a too high a risk for non payment of rent.

Victor_the_Gink

pinkshoes wrote: »

If a LL has a mortgage, then their mortgage company will have a term not allowing DHSS tenants.

It is deemed a too high a risk for non payment of rent.

That's odd, my Nationwide BTL and my Brother's Birmingham Midshires BTL mortgages don't have any such clause.


I'm sure you know better though.