Why don't landlords like DSS?

brianqq · 6 October 2017 at 7:16PM

I do not use housing benefits and just ask this question out of curiosity.

When I look for a place to rent, I see in most ads "NO DSS". I wonder why are landlords reluctant? Isn't the rent guaranteed by the governmental scheme?

I understand that it is better to have a professional tenant rather than an unemployed one, but it should be better in terms of a guaranteed rent, as the government pays it. Or I have misunderstood the whole concept.

comeandgo · 6 October 2017 at 7:18PM

It can be a condition imposed by their insurance.

Cakeguts · 6 October 2017 at 7:21PM

Tenants only get up to a certain amount in housing benefit so a house where the rent is much higher has to have the difference made up by the tenant. You can guess how many tenants actually manage to do this without getting into serious rent arrears.

pinklady21 · 6 October 2017 at 7:21PM

Housing Benefit is not guaranteed to meet the full rent leaving a shortfall that a tenant on a low income may not be able to pay.

theartfullodger · 6 October 2017 at 7:22PM

It is easy to get insurance cover, perhaps a little more expensive.

DSS was dissolved in 2001. Think you mean HB/LHA tenants. Problem is Mother Theresa keeps cutting back benefits, making it harder to claim, imposing caps.

Car1980 · 6 October 2017 at 7:23PM

DSS is in common parlance though, like MOT

Silvertabby · 6 October 2017 at 7:24PM

It's because a minority of DSS recipients have spoilt it for the majority by acting irresponsibly.

It used to be that housing benefit was paid directly to the landlord. Now, in the interests of treating all people like responsible adults, the benefit is paid to the claimant - who is expected to do the right thing and pass the money to their landlord.

Unfortunately, a minority of DSS claimants just keep the money for themselves.

csgohan4 · 6 October 2017 at 7:58PM

Can't Pay we take it away

Mutton_Geoff · 6 October 2017 at 8:02PM

Silvertabby has hit the nail on the head. I have had several BTLs (all sold now) and generally the letting agents have also recommended I don't touch DSS and they would be the ones with experience in dealing with the fallout.

Dorian1958 · 6 October 2017 at 8:17PM

Depends on which market the landlord is operating in. Some LL's are happy to aim their properties at HB claimants, perhaps in the expectation that their tenants are likely to accept a lower quality standard of accommodation or be so desperate they are unlikely to complain about problems. Not all are like that of course. Other LL will be operating in a market where the rental prices of their properties are clearly above the means of someone who is claiming HB, and to save everyone time they specify "no DSS". At the end of the day the LL is operating a business and assessing the tenant on ability to pay the market rent for the property they are letting.