NO DSS Letting Agents and Landlords

Martin_the_Unjust

David2710 said:

SpiderLegs said:

It’s not clear from your post, have you found properties that are still being advertised as No DSS?

im not sure that the ruling prevented landlords from requiring a minimum income or requesting a guarantor, but I will go check now...

TBH it’s not that unexpected that LLs will continue to impose financial limitations on who they let their properties to and as long as they do so without referencing discriminatory terms I don’t know what can be reasonably done about it.

As someone has already pointed out this was a follow up to a previous post on the same subject. This all stems from an email received from my landlord telling me he intends to sell the property. My mission now is to test the situation in real time and to make consultations to change the law. The reason Landlords are still discriminating against specific groups is they probably think they can get away with it because it's not yet written into law. Watch this space.   

  

I think you need to delve further into why, as you say, landlords are discriminating against those on benefits.

If you discover that, and then put solutions in place then ‘the jobs a good un’

David2710

rik111 said:

You really want to force Landlords to accept tenants they don't want .? Why not go the whole hog and make it illegal to refuse any tenant that applies.
The fact is that, it is a huge risk to rent anything these days. It could take a year to get them out with no rent coming in and you could be handed a trashed property, cost can tun into 10's of thousands.
At least if you have a working couple with good credit you might have a chance of recovering a debt but no point even trying to go after anyone on benefits.

The alternative and it's a real possibility is compulsory purchase orders (CPOs). I think this is coming down the track if nothing is done to address the chronic housing crisis. Part of the problem I think is that many home owners are part-time Btl landlords and cannot afford to take a 6 month hit to rental income should the tenant default for whatever reason. These chancers are basically hedging their bets but could find themselves in court in breach the anti-discrimination act. Even minor celebrity  landlords are at it by disqualifying groups such as pregnant women and tenants who enjoy a curry as a national dish. There appears to be a nasty element of private landlord that gives decent landlords a bad name.  

squizz11

GDB2222 said:

squizz11 said:

I can't find a house ,  my husband works and we get a universal credit top up,  we have had all the excuses under the sun.   we have a 14 year rental history with 1 landlord and excellent references.   our landlord is selling and our time is up soon.   they might not write on the adds ,No DSS but it's not what they mean

How would you stop this, though?  

you can,t, people and agents lie,  nothing you can do to stop it.     People like me and my family just have to put up with it,  and now have to hope for the best that someone will take a chance, like my current landlord.  we have an autism awareness dog who even has his own reference,  that doesn't help either.

[Deleted User]

David2710 said:

[Deleted User] said:

Why the need for more legislation and what would it be?
No. The process is to test allegations in the Court arena. 
You even say that fines were issued.

Because legal precedent is not the law as it currently stands. If Landlords think they can get away with bypassing the anti-discrimination act then the law needs changing. It's as simple as.  

I dont think you understand precedent and ive never heard of the anti discrimination act. You'd be better consulting Shelter.

531063

David2710 said:

HampshireH said:

Lover_of_Lycra said:

There was a similar thread the other week. 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6252765/local-housing-allowance-renting-in-the-private-rented-sector

Also the OPs thread. Not sure why we need two.

Because as already explained it's a follow to a previous thread. The seriousness of my findings deserves another dedicated thread imho. I know some landlords would rather brush matter under the carpet but I think they underestimate how angry people are about this.  

Believe me LL's are also angry when a tenants get 2/3 months rent paid to them and then don't pay their due rent.

justworriedabit

Good thread.

531063 said:

David2710 said:

So my question is this, why are landlords and letting agencies STILL despite legal precedent discriminating against sick and disabled people? Even Banks and Building societies have reversed the ‘NO DSS’ policies in light of recent court rulings and media pressure.

Because 95% of my tenants who don't pay the rent are on benefits, when you contact your MP ask him to go back to the old system and pay the rent money direct to the LL, then I will start taking on tenants who are paid via benefits.

You've hit the nail on the head but I'm not sure re 95% though

justworriedabit

[Deleted User] said:

justworriedabit said:

[Deleted User] said:

Why the need for more legislation and what would it be?
No. The process is to test allegations in the Court arena. 
You even say that fines were issued.

How would you prove the LL's wanted "no dss"" if it was not written

Matter for Courts but I should think difficult to impossible. Also think there is no further legislation to strengthen the controls so OP needn't bother with his MP.

We plan to rent out as we wish and there is nothing that can stop us from doing that.
We aim to reward good T with no rent rise for years
If someone wants to guarantee us the rent and the condition of the property when T goes, then we'd take on anyone that we
felt was nice working or not but no pets/smokers.

What many T's forget is that many people only have the one rental or renting out their home as they work away etc and have mortgages and costs and when rent is not paid, etc the LL's can lose everything and I mean everything.

The nearst we get to rental is when we go on holidays ie nice rental/hol home/villa - we look after it, actually look after it better than ours if that is possible.

David2710

justworriedabit said:

[Deleted User] said:

Why the need for more legislation and what would it be?
No. The process is to test allegations in the Court arena. 
You even say that fines were issued.

How would you prove the LL's wanted "no dss"" if it was not written

Some letting agents skirt round the issue by stating 'professionals only' but many don't mention status at all. In regards to the recent court case I understand the Letting agents in question were caught out when the applicant asked the question (about benefits) before viewing. I will be testing it live myself by phone recording and by email once I hear back from my MP. LL's brave or foolish enough to mention NO DSS on the property details are probably unaware they could end up in court for breaching the anti-discrimination act. Unfortunately the act doesn't protect people like myself, just minority groups. That's why act needs urgent reform to protect ALL tenants.    

[Deleted User]

The Equality Act 2010, protects vulnerable groups including the disabled from discrimination and County Court Judgments have ruled against "no DSS" where it indirectly discriminated against certain categories of persons protected under the Act.
Unfortunately, the implication of your post is that you would like "all tenants" to be protected under the Act, right up there with protections for the disabled, transgender persons, etc. "All tenants" as a category will never be protected in that manner but I think you fail to understand this.
A far better approach would be to lobby for changes in such a way that landlords could feel much more confident that DSS tenants will not get into rent arrears. I'm a bit baffled why you do not focus on that as a more practical solution. DSS tenants could actually be seen as a more attractive group as they might even be statistically less likely to fall into arrears than professionals who these days are at the behest of being made redundant.

2021BJ

David2710 said:

HampshireH said:

Lover_of_Lycra said:

There was a similar thread the other week. 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6252765/local-housing-allowance-renting-in-the-private-rented-sector

Also the OPs thread. Not sure why we need two.

Because as already explained it's a follow to a previous thread. The seriousness of my findings deserves another dedicated thread imho. I know some landlords would rather brush matter under the carpet but I think they underestimate how angry I am about this.  

Fixed that for you.