Private renting and universal credit

Chall455

I am currently in receipt of universal credit and privately renting with my husband. We are in the process of seperating and I am trying to find another rental property for myself and my 2 small children. I've viewed multiple properties and the agent/ landlord has always chosen another potential tenant. I can't help but think it's most likely because I have a low income + UC. 
I just don't know what to do, in 6 weeks we won't have a home! 

marcia_

Chall455 said:

I am currently in receipt of universal credit and privately renting with my husband. We are in the process of seperating and I am trying to find another rental property for myself and my 2 small children. I've viewed multiple properties and the agent/ landlord has always chosen another potential tenant. I can't help but think it's most likely because I have a low income + UC. 
I just don't know what to do, in 6 weeks we won't have a home! 

 Surely if you will be caring for the children your husband should be the one looking for a new place? 

canaldumidi

When applying, are you declaring your full income to the landlord/agent? ie UC + maintenance income from the children's father?

But yes, despite it now being illegal to reject applicants on the basis of their being on benefits, it still happens frequently, though is not declared as such.

Where are you living now and why do you have to move?

As well as house-hunting via letting agents, try looking for landlords who market direct. Often agents have strict criteria that are fixed, whereas LLs can be flexible in how they select their tenants.

Chall455

marcia_ said:

Chall455 said:

I am currently in receipt of universal credit and privately renting with my husband. We are in the process of seperating and I am trying to find another rental property for myself and my 2 small children. I've viewed multiple properties and the agent/ landlord has always chosen another potential tenant. I can't help but think it's most likely because I have a low income + UC. 
I just don't know what to do, in 6 weeks we won't have a home! 

 Surely if you will be caring for the children your husband should be the one looking for a new place? 

You're right but the landlord is raising the rent and I think the children would benefit from a fresh start. 

wilfred30

What is happening in 6 weeks' time that you think means that you will no longer have a home then?

canaldumidi

Chall455 said:

marcia_ said:

Chall455 said:

I am currently in receipt of universal credit and privately renting with my husband. We are in the process of seperating and I am trying to find another rental property for myself and my 2 small children. I've viewed multiple properties and the agent/ landlord has always chosen another potential tenant. I can't help but think it's most likely because I have a low income + UC. 
I just don't know what to do, in 6 weeks we won't have a home! 

 Surely if you will be caring for the children your husband should be the one looking for a new place? 

You're right but the landlord is raising the rent and I think the children would benefit from a fresh start. 

Those are two separate issues. Maybe the latter is valid, but if finding a new place is a struggle.....

As for the former, read

Post 5: Rent increases: when & how can rent be increased?

dimbo61

With so many people now looking for rental properties at the moment you will have alot of competition for the few rentals coming on the market.
UC takes weeks and weeks to be paid to the Tenant !
A Landlord / Lettings Agents will want 5 weeks deposit and first month's rent before you move in.

LL/LA may well want a Working Guarantor to guarantee the rent will be paid every month.

SuseOrm

Well if you can’t find anywhere you won’t be going anywhere with you it’s that simple he will have to move out to easier for a single man to put a roof over his head than it is for a family.  

The fact As there is enormous competition for rentals at the moment I was self employed at one point And even despite putting down six months rent in advance (and earning 6 figures ) that wasn’t enough for some landlords to accept my rental application.  They just are in a position at the moment to be very choosy 

KxMx

Your local council housing team may have a list of benefit friendly landlords. 

SandyN21

I hate to mention this but for the last month, as a single early retired female looking to rent for the first time it was said to me by some letting agencies that landlords would prefer to rent to me than to someone with young children...so maybe it's nothing to do with being on a low income and UC