LL who do not accept those on benefits

sassy_one

Hi


I am interested to start a thread and also hear from those LLs who actively either state they do not wish to rent to those in receipt of benefit or those who would not allow it anyway.

What exactly is the issue, besides LLs own personal dislike, as far as I can tell?

I say this because, I have witnessed and heard much evidence that A) Could be a Solicitor and not ever pay on time or even miss various rental payments. 
But Someone in receipt of benefit will pay on time, never late.

Is it because you LLs dislike the T sitting around in the property they've paid to rent longer than someone say working 9-5 would otherwise?

It cannot be used as excuse its because of the mortgage providers terms as I've seen the terms of some of the big players and they have long removed the exclude terms.

Given unemployment will likely hit a record high by the end of the year, I think it's not only morally wrong and unfair but also very discriminatory to cut someone out of a rental because of the position they may find themselves in.

Examples, cancer patient, sick and ill people, single mothers, those fleeing violence or some other type of abuse are to name a few.

If someone has the rent, can provide the deposit and have the correct documents to prove right to rent, what is your issue?
Bringing a personal exclude to these people is wrong, morally let alone following the recent landmark case.


To all the decent LLs who do not, thank you so much as its you who stop many going homeless.

To all the LLs who do, I seriously think you need to question your morals as a human being considering anyone could end up on benefits now given the current situation globally.

anselld

There is already a similar thread ...
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6168658/no-dss-unlawful#latest

Some of the issues have been ..
   Some mortgage companies don't allow benefit tenants.
   Some insurers don't allow benefit tenants.
   In the event of non payment of rent it is harder to evict because Councils actively encourage benefit tenants to wait out for the bailiffs.
   In the event of non payment it is harder to recover debt as benefit tenants generally have fewer assets/funds.
   Some properties would be unaffordable for benefit tenants and the L may simply be wishing for those not to waste everyone's time by applying.

theartfullodger

Insurance may be an issue, but Landlord can simply buy a policy that does permit it, perhaps a little more expensive.

I've ignored mortgage conditions since 2000.  Doubt it would stand up in court if lender tried repo.

MOST UK adults are in receipt of at least one benefit, increased even more with covid.

About a million people in work get some of HB or housing element of UC.

Reducing your size of market is normally unwise.

Artful: in receipt of 6 benefits (old) thank you you generous taxpayers, Landlord since 2000.

[Deleted User]

I understand that it is now not lawful to exclude via advertisement tenants who are in receipt of benefits. This being the case it seems somewhat irrelevant to canvass opinions of landlords who might break the rules when in reality their views should not be entertained and they should simply be compelled to comply with the law.

Morglin

After a Court case a while ago, where a would be renter was awarded compensation, it  seems taking a blanket stand against those on benefits can be classed, by the courts, as illegal discrimination.

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn07008/

unforeseen

Morglin said:

After a Court case a while ago, where a would be renter was awarded compensation, it  seems taking a blanket stand against those on benefits can be classed, by the courts, as illegal discrimination.

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn07008/

I wonder if there is some tenuous link between the change in the law and cases like above.? 

FBaby

The reason is simple. The length of time it takes for the court to evict tenants. A tenants on benefits has little to lose waiting to be evicted by the court paying no rent. It leads to what they want in the first place, a social housing house. Even when they are evicted and owe months of rent, they don't have the money to go after them.

I have a nice home in a nice area that attracts professionals. If they stop paying rent, I am much more likely to recoup it.

Its all down to risk pure and simple. Most insurances refuse people in benefits because evidence is that they are much more of a financial risk. 

It is massive unfair to those who are reliable tenants. Totally accept that, but I'm not interested in being a social landlord and sadly I need to lower the risks, financially of course but also in terms of potential stress. I work FT in a demanding job and although I accept that being a LL comes with an element of stress, my aim is to limit it as much as possible.

silvercar

In today's covid 19 environment, the safer tenants may be those where housing benefit is paying the rent. Also if you can find a good "hb" tenant you won't have to worry about voids between tenancies as they tend to want to make it their home for many years, particularly if they find a decent landlord.

FBaby

Covid won't last forever. Also, almost impossible to ascertain who is a 'good' hb tenant. I let to a family on hb. I met them first, got references, they appeared very reasonable people. Sadly they were not, trashed the place, didn't pay last month's of rent, and later appeared they were engaged in illegal activity. 

It comes down to risk, you can't judge anyone be they on benefits, or on a very high income, but between the two, the latter is less likely to cause issues.

ashe

Isnt part of the issue that rent goes to tenants and not the LL, so a tenant getting benefits isn’t any more likely to lag up because it’s a guaranteed benefit as they still have to manually give the LL the cash, which is proving to be a temptation to many? Plus the reasons stated above.

wont be hard for LL’s to pick another tenant and justify it using some other criteria 

diggingdude

It doesn't help that over the years many benefit tenants has behaved so disgracefully that they have tarnished the majority with the same brush and that leads to landlords fearing taking then on incase they end up with a channel 5 tenant