10 year tenancy, evicted but what do I do?!

Shahie

Hi Op,

Have you spoken to Social Services? They have access to additional funds for your type of situation.

Also, Housing Benefit's tell everybody the maximum they are willing to pay for accommodation which is NOT the same as the top amount legally they can pay!

For example, in one Inner London Borough they say they will pay up to £300 p/w for a three bed flat but they can legally pay up to, I believe, £363 if it classed as Temporary Accommodation.

You could ask the local Homeless Dept in your Council to source you Private Accommodation.

Also, speak to your local Councilor as they have more dealings with the inner workings of local government than your MP.

Last but not least, check out the small adds in your local paper and shop windows. Landlords often advertise direct to avoid Estate Agents who do nothing for their fee's! You may find one that may be able to help you out and help you...

I hope it works out for you.

N79

OP

I have posted this before but I feel the need to post again.

"Also, how has anyone got around the 'Employed Only' problem with agents?! I'm fed up with being insulted by people who are not even prepared to listen to me. I'm a decent, respectable person who happens to be in a difficult situation. But my rent is paid and so are my bills, and I take care of the property I live in. I have even offered to pay any additional insurance costs due to having a tenant on benefits! Because I happen to be a disabled single parent on benefits does not mean I sit smoking crack and drinking special brew whilst watching daytime TV"

I am not insulting you. Please understand that being a proper landlord is about running a business. If I rent to people on benefits then my costs, for my 3 bed properties, rise by around £60 per month and I can not insure the rent. Are people on benefits prepared to pay £60 more to rent, plus a larger deposit? No they are not. So why should I make £60 less profit per month. It is not an insult - it is good business practice. I hope this clarifies why many landlords do not allow people on benefits.

N79

clutton_2

""If I rent to people on benefits then my costs, for my 3 bed properties, rise by around £60 per month ""

how do you work that out ?

""I can not insure the rent."" - i have never insured any of my rents and have lost very little money due to tenants not paying.

N79

Clutton

how do you work that out ?

Depending on the exact postcode I pay around 160 - 200 a year for buildings insurance. If I allow people on benefits then this rediculously rises to over 800 a year minimum. I suppose I could look at using a different company for tennants on benefits but then I would be changing the insurers all the time - which again would cost. I'm also an evil non-resident landlord so it is a pain to have to continually change.

""I can not insure the rent."" - i have never insured any of my rents and have lost very little money due to tenants not paying."
Your choice - overall I have so far broken about even on this one (Ok I've paid about 15% more for the insurance than I would have in lost rent) but I like the security of knowing that if I get several bad tennants at the same time that my cashflow will not drop of a cliff. I am an especially evil landlord in that the first 6 months insurance premium is payed by the tennant as part of their reference charge. Since my market is mostly people moving into the area and renting temporarily until they find a house to buy this covers most tenancies (London communter territory).

N79

Shahie

N79, Clutton,

Different people manage their Portfolio's in different ways - to each their own.

My Company (better Tax efficiency to go Ltd Property Management Co) rents directly to the local authority Homeless Services not direct to Tenant. Only very rarely will I rent direct to HB tenant, in this case I would listen, ask the perspective tenant if I can visit her at home to discuss further. If Tenant declines the home visit then I decline the tenant, if I visit and find the house immaculate (they knew I was coming - they need to ensure the place is spotless) then I will consider them and as long as the rent is the same as with a Private renter I would offer them appropriate accommodation if I have it.

This is how I know that the HB offered can be increased under certain circumstances, given the OP's disabilities then they should be able to make a case for renting a more expensive property for their needs.

Regards.