Private landlords, do you accept housing benefits?

Robbo66

FreeBear said:

Robbo66 said: The Council will not be a guarantor, councils never have been and never will be.

Not quite true. Many councils have what they call a "rent bond guarantee" and also provide assistance with things like deposits. This sort of financial support is generally only available to people that are currently (or at risk of being) homeless and have been assessed as being a priority. The budget for this limited and not widely publicised.

As for housing benefit being paid directly to the landlord, a word of caution - If the claimant is found to be guilty of benefit fraud, the DWP could claim any payments made for rent back. They would need to show that the LL was in collusion with the claimant and the DWP isn't averse to twisting facts to suite their agenda..

That has nothing to do with paying the rent, a guarantor agrees to pay the rent when the tenant doesn't. The rent bond guarantee is exactly that a bond to cover the deposit, the distinction is the word BOND, and have you ever tried to make a claim against it. Councils make it extremely difficult and argue every point so as to not pay out. These are usually capped at one months rent as well and are only valid for one year and they are meant as a stop gap so the tenant can build up a cash deposit to replace it.

[Deleted User]

From the experience I have had, I will only let to people that pass the checks.

I have had a terrible experience and I will not discriminate but the person going forward has to pass all checks to be selected. 

Olinda99

You could consider asking for a guarantor - one that has assets eg own their own property.

poppy12345

Robbo66 said:

Rent is now paid as part of universal credit,

Not in all cases. If a person is already claiming Housing benefit and they are moving within the same Local Authority then they do not need to claim UC for help with any rent. It will simply be a change of address, with the new tenancy agreement as proof of eligibility to pay rent.

If they are moving to a different local Authority then they will need to claim UC for any help with the rent. Or if they are under state pension age or a mixed aged couple and they are claiming help with the rent for the first time. Those of state pension age and above will need to claim housing benefit.

Robbo66 said:

Some councils will pay direct to the landlord at the start but only under certain circumstances and these vary council to council.

That's not quite correct either.  Local Authorities will pay the LL direct if the LL requires this, even if the tenant isn't in arrears. I've rented for the past 10 years and have never been in arrears but 2 landlords out of 3 have asked for the rent to be paid directly from my LA's.

Richard1212

I never accept such tenants. I appreciate that some may be lovely people temporarily on housing benefit, but I have had a number of such tenants that have caused trouble to me and, indeed, other neighbouring residents in all sorts of ways. I never have flats vacant for very long and I have a waiting list for some----I'm sorry for anyone needing benefits of any kind but I have to go on my experiences in the past and in the quality of the properties I rent out and the views of other tenants in a development. I have capped my rent increases from mid-2022 and am doing so throughout 2023----between 3% and 6% depending on criteria I have set ; and will lose much profit whilst I see other landlords profiting in a major way. So I think I have tried to be fair and of help in these terrible economic times.

Murphybear

Richard1212 said:

I never accept such tenants. I appreciate that some may be lovely people temporarily on housing benefit, but I have had a number of such tenants that have caused trouble to me and, indeed, other neighbouring residents in all sorts of ways. I never have flats vacant for very long and I have a waiting list for some----I'm sorry for anyone needing benefits of any kind but I have to go on my experiences in the past and in the quality of the properties I rent out and the views of other tenants in a development. I have capped my rent increases from mid-2022 and am doing so throughout 2023----between 3% and 6% depending on criteria I have set ; and will lose much profit whilst I see other landlords profiting in a major way. So I think I have tried to be fair and of help in these terrible economic times.

I’ve worked in the business for years and had hundreds of landlords and thousands of tenants on the books.   Most of our landlords took housing benefit on our recommendation and I am pleased to say we only ever had one problem.  Do you try and evict your tenants who lose their jobs and have to claim benefits to survive?  

HWBY

Richard1212 said:

and will lose much profit whilst I see other landlords profiting in a major way.

  oh no  

_Penny_Dreadful

diystarter7 said:

_Penny_Dreadful said:

It is a breach of the Equality Act 2010 to discriminate against a potential tenant on the basis they are in receipt of benefits.  This woman may be in receipt of housing benefit for her current home and might be unaware that when her situation changes she will be moving to universal credit.  That sounds more plausible that accusing the woman of straight up lying.

Hi

You are possibly correct but as per my above post, those on benefits will not meet the affordability criteria for any of our properties.

Thanks

Whilst there are some applicants you could legitimately reject on the basis of not meeting affordability there are those in receipt of benefits who can afford to top-up the rent so they may well meet your affordability criteria.  You'd then need to come up with some legitimate reason for rejecting them other than because they receive benefits or you could find yourself being taken to court as has happened in York and Birmingham when people have had a blanket ban on benefit claimants.

Gycraig

_Penny_Dreadful said:

diystarter7 said:

_Penny_Dreadful said:

It is a breach of the Equality Act 2010 to discriminate against a potential tenant on the basis they are in receipt of benefits.  This woman may be in receipt of housing benefit for her current home and might be unaware that when her situation changes she will be moving to universal credit.  That sounds more plausible that accusing the woman of straight up lying.

Hi

You are possibly correct but as per my above post, those on benefits will not meet the affordability criteria for any of our properties.

Thanks

Whilst there are some applicants you could legitimately reject on the basis of not meeting affordability there are those in receipt of benefits who can afford to top-up the rent so they may well meet your affordability criteria.  You'd then need to come up with some legitimate reason for rejecting them other than because they receive benefits or you could find yourself being taken to court as has happened in York and Birmingham when people have had a blanket ban on benefit claimants.

You don’t need to provide a reason though ? Most places get loads of applicants for each rental. 

_Penny_Dreadful

Gycraig said:

_Penny_Dreadful said:

diystarter7 said:

_Penny_Dreadful said:

It is a breach of the Equality Act 2010 to discriminate against a potential tenant on the basis they are in receipt of benefits.  This woman may be in receipt of housing benefit for her current home and might be unaware that when her situation changes she will be moving to universal credit.  That sounds more plausible that accusing the woman of straight up lying.

Hi

You are possibly correct but as per my above post, those on benefits will not meet the affordability criteria for any of our properties.

Thanks

Whilst there are some applicants you could legitimately reject on the basis of not meeting affordability there are those in receipt of benefits who can afford to top-up the rent so they may well meet your affordability criteria.  You'd then need to come up with some legitimate reason for rejecting them other than because they receive benefits or you could find yourself being taken to court as has happened in York and Birmingham when people have had a blanket ban on benefit claimants.

You don’t need to provide a reason though ? Most places get loads of applicants for each rental. 

If some suspects you have discriminated against them, for whatever protected characteristic covered by the Equality Act, they can take you to court.