Private renting on benefits

DaveKorda72

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81936134#Comment_81936134

yes i check all of them 3-4 times a day. its the same door slammed in my face, i need a guarantor or £22k income.

its all starting to have a detrimental effect on my mental health now.

Dave1UK

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81938044#Comment_81938044

I'm assuming you don't as you wouldn't have mentioned it otherwise, but would a family member or a very good long-term friend be willing to be a guarantor? Especially if they are aware of your circumstances/you manage your money well/are able to definitely pay the rent?

I was a guarantor once for my sister-in-law.

DaveKorda72

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81941225#Comment_81941225

No. I cant get anyone to be a guarantor unfortunately.

i have 2 viewing this week. I am not feeling too hopeful about them as one wants an Application Fee: £375 which i just don't have. i know it would be taken off the deposit but my DHP is for the whole deposit and rent in advance. i doubt they would do the application fee separate. And the other one doesn't mention a guarantor or or a stupid income, but i bet they will spring it on me at the viewing.

marcia_

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81942299#Comment_81942299

you can sometimes get discretionary housing payments from your local council for fees and deposits

BungalowBel

When I was a landlord I would have chosen the 'best' person to rent the place. A number of factors would come into this for me to make my decision. Not just affordability.

The last time we rented the flat, it was to a young couple who actually had less income than one of the other candidates who we were considering (although they could both afford the rent). In the end we chose them over the other candidate simply because we liked them better.

So it's not just affordability that comes into play.

( NB : Obviously we took references as well!).

DaveKorda72

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81942517#Comment_81942517

A DHP has been approved and very kindly placed on hold so i can access it as soon as i get an offer letter.

DaveKorda72

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81951970#Comment_81951970

You were one of very few that seem to do this. greatly appreciated though.

i think many landlords/estate agents just have a stereotypical image of someone when they declare that they are in receipt of benefits and have no fixed address.

I am a big believer on judging someone for who they are, not what they are. i would like to get to the stage of having a viewing so people could meet me, and like yourself, choose someone you like.

but many estate agents seem to use the 'referencing' as a way to get rid of those on benefits by saying i wont pass as i don't have a guarantor or have an income of £25k ect.

Murphybear

I find this annoying and sad. Let me tell you about my experience. Sorry for the length

My husband and I had a franchised letting agency a few years ago. The franchise gave us in depth training and I took and passed exams. We were happy, with the landlords’ agreement, to have tenants on benefits. I explained to the landlords that we could get the money paid to us in case they were concerned and generally found these tenants were very good as they knew that if they lost the tenancy with us for any reason, getting another tenancy on benefits could be a problem. That was the rule then, I think they like to pay the money to the tenants these days

In the years we had the business we only had one problem tenant who was using her rent money to pay off her mother’s debts. Fortunately she left of her own accord.

One day a Lamborghini parked outside the office and a youngish man came in and said he’d just bought 6 flats and he would like us to find tenants for them. He said he didn’t mind benefits. He came to us because, `I hadn’t realised, we had a good reputation. I contacted the local council and said we had 6 new properties, benefits allowed and could they let us know about suitable people. Knowing how long the council waiting lists are I thought they’d be pleased but they said they had no one suitable🙀. I was totally gobsmacked.

I advertised the flats and let them all in a couple of days. Another young man came in and said he was a good friend of our new landlord and had bought 6 flats himself. I found tenants easily, 3 were on benefits. A few months later it was Christmas. These 2 men came into the office and said how pleased they were with the tenants and gave us 6 bottles of champagne 😺

I used this story to make new landlords understand that tenants on benefits are rarely a problem. Our business was successful but sadly I became seriously ill and we sold the business to another letting agent who had a good reputation and was a friend. This was not in a big city by the way but in semi rural Devon. This may have made a difference

Sadly I became seriously ill and we sold the business to a letting agent friend who had a good reputation. I recovered and am living in happy retirement.

If I understand correctly when the new Housing Act comes in force on 1st May discriminating against people on benefits will be illegal

Murphybear

After you’ve been in the lettings business for a while you develop an instinct for who is going to be a good tenant. When my husband and I had our lettings business a single father with 4 children contacted us as he had trouble finding a house, no landlord or letting agent would consider him. His “sin” apparently was that he looked a bit like a Hells Angel and looked a bit scary. He wasn’t working at the moment as 2 of the children were below school age. As it happened we had a suitable house. The landlord had been with us for a while and didn’t mind benefits and trusted us. We put him in the house and one day the landlord came in and said she was pleased with the tenant. He was friendly and the house was immaculate.

Appearances can be deceptive 😺

KxMx

My Mum worked in private lettings for over 15 years, the worst property damage was caused by a couple one a Doctor, the other a Dentist. When they left the place was absolutely trashed and took the landlord a considerable amount of money to rectify. They weren't on any benefits.

Unfortunately the new Housing Act won't make much difference IMO, another reason will be used to refuse benefits tenants, same with tenants looking to rent with pets.