Can A Landlord's Mortage Refuse To Rent To A Disabled Person On Benefits But Accept Retired People?

K80_Black

LilElvis wrote: »

Sometimes circumstances make it difficult to do otherwise. I was seeing my other half for two years when we decided to buy a house together and we had only spent weekends and holidays together as we lived 75 miles apart, meaning several hours of journey time. We've now been together 17 1/2 years, owned a home together for 15 and married for 13.

Nice to hear a positive story!

In our case, I was offered the opportunity to rent somewhere in a perfect location that was totally unfurnished on a fixed 2 year tenancy. It's owned by a charity who help the mentally ill. We felt it was both too good an opportunity to miss, and a little early in our relationship to make any huge commitments.

We've spent the 2 years buying quality furniture and appliances to make it easier when we buy, while still saving to get an even bigger deposit. If we were to break up now, it'd still be hard enough to decide who gets what furniture. (I'm definitely keeping the coffee machine)

theartfullodger

I've always ignored any constraints in my mortgages. Suspect there's yet to be a repossession test case of a mortgage lender taking court action but to a tenant being on benefits.

After all, MOST UK adults are in receipt of one sort of benefit or another. Can anyone quote a court case please?

Insurance it's easy to get cover, perhaps more expensive.

LilElvis

Comms69 wrote: »

Fair enough and im glad it worked out for you. That said, you could've rented together, if you're buying a house it means you have an agreed location, so the 75 miles thing isn't an issue at that stage

We were buying in a rapidly rising market - our house was £250 new and we paid £465 for it 27 months later. Renting, even for 6 months, would have cost a lot in both dead rent money and price inflation. Selling mine took longer than we hoped so we missed out on my husband's perfect home - one with a pool - which is probably worth a good £200 more than ours now. My husband got the five minute commute whilst mine was 4.5 to 5 hours - fortunately something I no longer do as a SAHM.

onwards&upwards

theartfullodger wrote: »

I've always ignored any constraints in my mortgages. Suspect there's yet to be a repossession test case of a mortgage lender taking court action but to a tenant being on benefits.

After all, MOST UK adults are in receipt of one sort of benefit or another. Can anyone quote a court case please?

Insurance it's easy to get cover, perhaps more expensive.

Is it really most? I suppose with the average age getting older and people living longer. Oh plus child benefit. Yeah you’re probably right actually!

I do agree with Comms69 about living together before buying together if you possibly can. Living together is different even if you spend 6 nights a week at each other’s places. There’s bills, sharing wardrobes, not having anywhere to retreat to, sharing responsibility for chores etc. It all sounds trivial but a lot of couple split in the first year after moving in and it’s so much more stressful if you own a property together.

K80_Black

onwards&upwards wrote: »

Is it really most? I suppose with the average age getting older and people living longer. Oh plus child benefit. Yeah you’re probably right actually!

I do agree with Comms69 about living together before buying together if you possibly can. Living together is different even if you spend 6 nights a week at each other’s places. There’s bills, sharing wardrobes, not having anywhere to retreat to, sharing responsibility for chores etc. It all sounds trivial but a lot of couple split in the first year after moving in and it’s so much more stressful if you own a property together.

When we do live together, I will lose all my income related benefits. This will leave me with a small amount of PIP to live off of - though of course my partner is more than happy to support me.

This happens whether we rent or buy - it seems ridiculous to guarantee wasting literally thousands of pounds on renting for a year. Yes, it will be messy and complicated if we do split, but we're optimists.

We already split chores (I cook, he washes up etc), he gives me money towards food, wine, electricity, Internet and all that (but is glad I take responsibility for them), he has wardrobe space, a dressing gown here - and given the fact that he works both a 9-5 and about 1 evening a week we'll have plenty of time away from each other. I'm not one of those psycho girlfriends who objects if he fancies a night out without me.

westernpromise

K80_Black wrote: »

I'm not having a go at you. I thanked your post and used it as a discussion point. I wasn't disagreeing with you. I'm sorry if it came across that way.

You've actually underscored why landlords are well advised not to let to people on benefits.

An HMO landlord who let to you might find that your violent and psychotic outbursts drive all his other tenants away. Meanwhile, under changes to the law being mooted right now, he can't get rid of you.

As I observed above you haven't worked out what risk you present. It doesn't matter that there are people with jobs with less money than you. It doesn't matter that there are people on benefits who are perfectly nice. What matters is who is more likely to create problems. And the consensus is that it is benefit tenants who are likelier, an impression you've rather reinforced.

K80_Black

westernpromise wrote: »

You've actually underscored why landlords are well advised not to let to people on benefits.

An HMO landlord who let to you might find that your violent and psychotic outbursts drive all his other tenants away. Meanwhile, under changes to the law being mooted right now, he can't get rid of you.

As I observed above you haven't worked out what risk you present. It doesn't matter that there are people with jobs with less money than you. It doesn't matter that there are people on benefits who are perfectly nice. What matters is who is more likely to create problems. And the consensus is that it is benefit tenants who are likelier, an impression you've rather reinforced.

I don't have violent and psychotic outbursts at home. I have medication I can take to control it. Unfortunately it sends me to sleep very quickly. This is why I don't leave the house much - I'm too scared of being out of control, in public, and unable to take my medication because it will send me to sleep before I can safely get home.

It's fine if you have a fundamental lack of understanding of people with disabilities. You hear schizophrenic and think all sorts of things - the reality is we tend to just sleep a lot.

cantcope

Retired elderly couples aren't necessarily on benefits. More likely worked all their life and on a private pension if they were able to rent.

I used to let my flat out but my mortgage provider stated that i couldn't rent to tenants on benefits.

Most disabled people wont end up homeless. Not all disabled people are unable to work. I am disabled, work and have a mortgage.

Perhaps just look for a different property as this is clearly upsetting you as you've assumed discrimination when it more than likely isnt xx
it might be worth speaking with your local council to see if they can help?

MovingForwards

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6009906/can-a-landlords-mortage-refuse-to-rent-to-a-disabled-person-on-benefits-but-accept-retired-people

156 posts on your other thread.

poppy12345

MovingForwards wrote: »

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6009906/can-a-landlords-mortage-refuse-to-rent-to-a-disabled-person-on-benefits-but-accept-retired-people

156 posts on your other thread.

Yet they haven't been back.. :rotfl: