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FACT: Landlords Refusing DSS Tenants Is Well Justified

Written by The Landlord on 27 Jul 2010

DSS Tenant Vs Landlord

Did anyone read the Daily Express newspaper on Saturday, 24th July, 2010? The front page was dedicated to rogue DSS tenants and how much they cost taxpayers. I’ll get onto the details shortly, but first let me swing my embarrassingly tiny penis around and have a bitch…

I’ve openly had several outbursts about how and why I refuse to accept DSS tenants, and in return, I’ve received abuse, and some more abuse from the self-proclaimed “genuine” DSS tenants that are being hard done by because of ignorant landlords like myself for making judgmental statements. I actually do sympathize with the genuine DSS tenants that are struggling, HOWEVER, their lack of understanding and inability to appreciate the landlords’ perspective is bullshit and unbelievably boring.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had DSS tenants hurl abuse at me, informing me I’m greedy (what the fuck?) and ignorant for tarring everyone with the same brush. But my argument is, and I’m going to throw this out there… the people hurling that abuse at me are probably receiving benefits because they’re uneducated delinquents, as opposed to educated single parents or those claiming for physical disabilities. I say that because in almost ALL my rants about DSS tenants I’ve made it clear that I only refuse DSS tenants because of how ridiculous the actual Local Housing Allowance (LHA) system currently is, and not because I believe each and every DSS tenant is a money swindling fucker. If the system protected landlords better, then I’d sincerely accept them. But as it stands, the council side with rent dodging DSS criminals. See the distinct difference? I’m not judging anyone, I’m just refusing to get tangled in a broken system.

ALL DSS tenants need to understand that landlords are running a business, so they have to act like they’re running a business by assessing the risk factor of every decision they make. Like it or not, DSS tenants are high risk. No one is tarring everyone with the same brush here, so spare me from that overplayed and tiresome argument, I’m just stating a fact. The risk with accepting DSS tenants IS far greater than most other types of tenants, so why should landlords take that risk when they can substantially reduce their risk by taking a fully employed tenant?

What’s confusing is that no one shouts at banks when they assess applicants for bank loans, but as soon as landlords try to protect their investment with a little risk assessment they automatically become morally crippled!!! If I got declined for credit due to my ill financial circumstances (for whatever reason), I’d understand because it’s not like I’m being told I can’t get credit because i’m overly qualified. Now that would be confusing!!

Here are some facts from the article to suck on

Benefits scroungers are routinely stealing rent money worth hundreds of pounds given to them by the state to pay their landlords.
Up to one in 10 of the 674,930 tenants claiming the allowance sponge benefits, interviews with almost 1,000 landlords by the National Landlords Association found.
The scandal has caused rent arrears of an estimated £227.4million up to October 2009.

ONE IN 10 abuse the system!! The justification for landlords rejecting DSS tenants’ is there and I want every DSS to realise that before they sit there wondering what the landlord is basing their facts on and why the asshole landlord is being such a judgmental prick.

I’m not saying the situation is fair for DSS tenants, and I’m not saying every DSS tenant is the same (that’s far from the truth), but what I am saying is, don’t blame the landlords for making their justified choice; blame those abusing the system and the Government for making the system so floored.

Those that abuse the system aren’t necessarily chavs or complete wasters; they’re every day people like Bernadette (the stupid, inconsiderate slag below) that most likely blends in with every other person. So while it’s so difficult to separate the genuine from the wasters, it’s perfectly valid to refuse DSS tenants.

DSS Tenant Vs Landlord

They are being allowed to pocket the cash for eight weeks before the debt-ridden landlord is able to insist that the benefit is instead paid directly.

The article clearly highlights how and why it’s so easy to abuse the system. Shit needs to change for the situation to get better for both landlord and tenant.

Before I go, allow me to quickly go over my stance on the situation again, in easy bullet points, so no one gets confused:

I don’t think all DSS tenants are the same. I’ve had pleasant experience with 2 of them (and bad experiences with 4 of them). They were decent and honest people that were dealt a bad hand in life.
I’m not saying landlords should or shouldn’t accept DSS tenants, I’m just saying landlords have a legitimate reason for not accepting them, and DSS tenants should respect/accept that with understanding.
While the government is largely to blame for the current state of affairs, I don’t blame them entirely. The criminals abusing the system (they ARE criminals as far as I’m concerned) need to be tossed aside and sliced with a sledge hammer.

For those people that deem my rant inappropriate, you can read the original news article online, OUTRAGE AS SCROUNGERS BLOW £220M IN BENEFITS! But I warn you, it’s no way near as good as my dribbling sanity.

I Refused A DSS Tenant Who’s Also My Friend

What Happens When A DSS Tenant Falls Into Arrears? Not Much!

Reasons Why Landlords Shouldn’t Accept DSS Tenants

The Council Are So Shit To Landlords With Problem DSS Tenants (Part 2)

Landlords With DSS Tenants Could Receive a Grant Of £3,500 To Make Their Property More Energy Efficient

Landlords That Discriminate Against Tenants

66 Comments - join the conversation...

Showing 17 - 66 comments (out of 66)

Capitalism2010-09-19 20:32:58 This is obviously an attack on the vulnerable people in our country to keep them under control. These unhand tactics piss me off! 17

sineace2010-09-20 22:55:58 what about people like me who have been a married woman in a bought house for 13 years and due to domestic violence by my working tax paying husband, find myself a dss person, alone, with 4 kids and not street wise at all, we have gone from a nice bought area to having to live like we are bad dss people and are treated like scum, as if we haven't been through enough already 18

Aunty P2010-09-21 09:04:26 Some of you are taking this so personally, I'm amazed. Please let me just copy in the part of this article you obviously chose not take in.
I don’t think all DSS tenants are the same. I’ve had pleasant experience with 2 of them (and bad experiences with 4 of them). They were decent and honest people that were dealt a bad hand in life.

I’m not saying landlords should or shouldn’t accept DSS tenants, I’m just saying landlords have a legitimate reason for not accepting them, and DSS tenants should respect/accept that with understanding.

While the government is largely to blame for the current state of affairs, I don’t blame them entirely. The criminals abusing the system (they ARE criminals as far as I’m concerned) need to be tossed aside and sliced with a sledge hammer.

The Landlord is obviously not referring to DSS tenants who are responsible and pay their rent on time.

It's a case of the minority spoiling things for the majority as often happens today. 19

Darran2010-09-30 11:32:39 I have total sympathy for the landlord, the sum bag tenant deserves to be kicked and lose her rights to housing benefit.
Morons like this are just destroying the situation and making it far worse for decent, honest people.
I can understand why the majority of landlords point blank to refuse dss tenants but by doing this they are losing out on a potentially decent tenant.

However, a lot can be learnt about a person by meeting and talking to them, find out their history and why they are in the position they are in before totally writing them off.
I am a 45 year old guy and I have worked most of my life but due to my health I had no choice but to stop working 2 years ago.
I explain my situation to agents and land lords, tell them that references are not a problem, neither is a deposit and also paying 2-3 months’ rent in advance.
I also let them know that Haringey are currently taking 8 weeks to process and start paying housing benefit so hence the reason I want to put down more rent in advance to ensure that there isn’t a problem with them receiving the rent.
I try to emphasise all these points and also explain that I have an SIA level 2 security badge and they can also check this out.
Only a decent person with 0% criminal record is allowed to hold this badge (believe me the SIA are thorough with their checks) but all I keep hearing is ‘no’.

Landlords who use decent agents who manage the property and guarantee the landlord that they will get the rent and providing the agreement is rock solid, it should be a lot less stressful for them.
Granted this is not as plane sailing for landlords who rent privately but meeting a person and judging them on their honesty would certainly help.
Any potential decent tenant should (in my opinion) should be totally up front and answer any questions the potential landlord has to ask.
I have nothing to hide, the shear frustration and banging my head against a brick wall just trying to find an agent / landlord who will just hear me out is getting to the point where I may as well give up trying and accept the fact that I am considered as a low life scrounger.

How many people out there have judged a person they have met in general life only to realise they were totally wrong?
If you met a person who was once a crack cocaine and alcohol addict, lived on the streets, got themselves banged up due to their addiction rather than any form of criminal violence, would you write that person off?
I will not deny that there was a point when I would write them off as total losers, oxygen thieves and have no time for them.
However, since meeting someone who has been through a situation like this, been through rehab, lots of therapy, is a totally decent, trust worthy person and a very good and loyal friend, I have had a major wakeup call and realised how I have been so judgemental for far too many years.

Can we not all accept ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ ? 20

Darran2010-09-30 11:38:22 Aunty P, if you've ever been in this situation you would have a better understanding of decent people who end up down on their luck.

No one is taking it personally with regard to the landlord in this story, I a sure everyone feels for her.
It's the fact that the mention of DSS instantly gives the impression the person is a lowlife scrounger.
People are and always will be judgmental an many will use this rather than try and use their brain. 21

Aunty P2010-09-30 13:31:26 Hi Darran, read my last post, it's number 19 in the list above. I think you just made a big assumption about me. I've had several tragedies in my life, too private to mention here but including being homeless with no income and 2 small children. I'm just like most people on this planet but luckily I've come through everything life has chucked at me. And no I certainly don't write off people with misfortune in their past and I try very hard not to judge people I don't know because it's very likely that I or one of my family have been there too.

I take your point about how some people will interpret this article but however it was written those same morons would still interpret it the way they want to.

You sound like a decent, honest person and I'm really sorry that you're having such a bad time. I hope things look up for you soon. 22

sineace2010-09-30 16:22:55 its hard to accept that as a dss tenant we cannot go after certain properties to live in especially when the local housing haven't been able to house you,and have recommended that you go private cause the system doesn't cater for people in my particular situation, when at an interview all my medical issues are taken on board yet when allocation happens, none of them are met, you try living in a 3rd floor flat with 4 young kids and arthritis and no lift, cause thats all they could offer me!!! hence my private rental 23

sineace2010-09-30 16:31:39 is it anywonder why people on social security benefit give up, were treated like second class citizens and it doesn't matter if you've been a tax payer like myself for 13 years, you get treated like crap and attitudes including some private landlords and not doing anything to help are they? kick a dog when it's down???? is that really how we treat people? people need help, welcoming into society and supported not ignored. Yes, i'm totally aware that there are people doing things they shouldn't and this is why we need an even more personal system taking individual differences and circumstances into consideration but alas the population keeps growing and we become the opposite of what we need, we become a number, whether you get your money from a job or the government, it really shouldn't make a difference in how someone is treated, 24

Matthew2010-09-30 18:06:20 I am a landlord with a DSS tenant. I think that most people take the view that DSS tenants are tarred with the same brush, but that is not true.
I agree my first tenant (Also DSS) was a professional scrounger who knew every rule in the book and it took a while to evict him. But I now have another DSS tenant who is no trouble what so ever.

Just because you have a bad experience with a tenant does not mean it will be like that next time. 25

Rachel2010-10-18 22:10:18 Up to one in 10 of the 674,930 tenants claiming the allowance sponge benefits, interviews with almost 1,000 landlords by the National Landlords Association found.

Sounds like "FACT" to me.... not!!! More like someone's assumption, that someone being a regular honest John themselves, another Mr I promise you a kitchen for a year like my landlord 26

disturbed2010-11-20 02:56:47 By the way @AUS that benefits calculator is totally wrong, thats just an estimate...what you would find is that he would get around 65 a week in JSA and around 400 per month in LHA. it is assessed on an individual basis and there are set categories for different numbers of people, numbers of children etc. However that doesn't clear up the fact there is an afro caribbean family recieving over 1000 per month in housing benefits, all living in a 6/7 bedroom house in london, despite this the father and one of the six children claiming the place wasn't big enough and were then paid further housing benefit for him and one of his kids to live in a 2 bed flat, while the mother and rest of the kids lived in an 12000 per year house; as recently reported in the papers...fair? I think not, racial discrimination...maybe? or possibly a fucked up system that doesn't know what the left hand is doing from the right. Suffice to say all landlords are complete morons when it comes to this issue and letting agents are well completely useless. Heres a thought if you're a landlord and you have a dss tenant interested why don't you ask them for passports and ID, last 3 months bank statements, previous landlord references, previous address history, previous employer references if they have ever been employed...maybe a letter confirming they were employed at said place and then a phonecall to confirm with the previous employer, and a guarantor. TBH with all this info you really cant go wrong. Check it all out phone a few ppl to confirm the references and with guarantors in place you're good to go. now why don't people think of that in the first place, maybe its landlords who are uneducated, tbh most landlords probably know they could do the above to check out a dss tenant, but they can't be arsed hence the reasons they waste their time and money with letting agents. If i were a landlord i'd do it all myself. And in regards to not being allowed credit well if i was to tell you that i actually work for a bank...and upon recently speaking to a customer had to advise him we couldn't lend to him becos of the nature of his business: LANDLORD, he wasn't happy I can assure you...the reason:Too much of a risk to the bank, i'm sure some landlords know how this must feel whilst others are still to learn the harsh reality of being rejected and for those that have been in unfortunate circumstances @AuntyP well lets just say it is a shame you have forgotten the troubles you have been through, instead of helping those going through the same. And just to clarify AUS councils are not "duty bound" to put you in temporary accomodation, if you don't tick all their boxes or don't score high enough on their list im afraid your on your own, on the cold cold streets. Believe me I know from experience, what was it they told me ooh yes "you're a healthy young man, there is nothing we can do" tbh they may as well just have sed 1. you're a man, 2. you don't have kids, 3. you're not of the ethinic minority...or is it majority nowadays, 4. not disabled/ill and 5. get out...so sorry excuse me but where do i fit in again??? - Taxpayer, worked since i was 16 on HB and JSA for a year 09-10, now have a very good job in the financial sector see we are not all uneducated delinquents, maybe what goes around does in deed come around, hope you get ya credit card... 27

disturbed2010-11-20 03:03:37 And by the way...working in the fincancial business sector I have seen hundereds of business who literally run themselves into the ground because they are being badly run, most landlords turn over less than an average salary from their businesses so don't go around preaching like you're all alan sugars. 28

Daniel Fraser2010-11-25 15:07:34 "the people hurling that abuse at me are probably receiving benefits because they’re uneducated delinquents"

few lines later; "I'm not judging anyone". 29

karen miller2011-01-26 15:52:57 i would like to know what happens when a working tenant doesnt pay their rent,they may have lost their job or maybe there are disputes with the landlord. It has been stated that it takes 8 weeks for dss rent to be redirected to landlord so how long would a landlord have to wait for money if an employed tenant stopped paying their rent? 30

Jaime2011-02-01 16:06:46 Hey. I can completely understand the rage these landlords get from bad tennants, and there is nothing you can do about it.

Could any landlords put together horror stories for me.
I have had to quit my job because i didnt earn 2.5x the rent amount of an aveage 1 bed flat in london. and now I have no job and am seeking the only other route, dss property. There is nothing available there either.

It seems to me that more people would rent their propertys to dss/ low incomes if the landlords had more control of their possessions instead of being fucked by legal loop holes.

I want to right a report and send it to goverment big wigs as my local mp is crap! maybe papers, media, se if anyones interested in nity grity fact?

(excuse spelling, sticky keyboard!)

cheers. email me. 31

Gabriella Coscia2011-02-25 13:15:41 The trouble is not all DSS tenants are bad
Some landlords are also bad as I found out to my own experience after having wasted a journey to sign for a new flat which the landlord gave to someone else after I went to their office to sign the paperwork at the agreed time with everything references all in order

I do hope that landlord gets a tenant from hell - There are bad landlords too but i am sure you know that 32

na#GY982744B2011-04-03 20:49:29 you landlord will be begging for DSS in the not to distant future..ha. In fact you so called land owners may be applying for DSS yourselves ! Be nice, when the pinch happens peasants will remember your survival- sorry greed instincts. peace all. 33

psycho2011-05-07 10:11:10 if you can refuse to accept dhss tennets because of there employment staus surley this is a form of discrimination . i thought every 1 in this country is suposed to treated as equals would you refuse me a tenancy if my skin was the wrong colour or i was disabled or gay .no because youd be thrown into court quicker than you could blink.a person on benifits has the same rights as every 1 else in this country and should be treated the same if they can pay there money is just as good as any one elses .
what and who gives any landlord or any person the right to discriminate aganist a person because of there status. 34

Matt2011-05-07 20:33:39 As a landlord I am sure we are free to decide who stays and who doesn't.
Its our property and we choose who we would like to stay in it. whether it be dss or private some tenants are just not right and therefore would be turned down.. is this discrimination?? I think not.

Remember it is a business and,just like any bank providing a loan, the tenant is assesed and if they pass the checks they are offered a tenancy. 35

Cardifflandlord2011-05-08 18:03:00 Psycho - like any pub or restaurant or any other public building we, the landlords, reserve the right to refuse a prospective tenant. We do not have to give a reason.

The tenant would have to prove discrimination.

Get your facts right before spouting bollocks. 36

psycho2011-05-09 09:11:30 ok i have phoned many leasing agents.they will not accept people on benifits and thats there company policy so thats not bollocks thats a FACT.
i accept that you have the right to refuse people a tenecny and i respect that its your right to do so. when you personaly state that you are refusing someone becasuse they are on benifits and soley refusing them because of that fact then even though you have a right to do so you are discrimating against that person because of there status. yes i also accept that The tenant would have to prove discrimination but surely you must be seen to give them the same equal rights that any 1 else has a right to apply and be judged on merit. accepted do not have to give a reason and i no myself that landlords have been riped off by people on benifits just as they have by people in full trime employment but surely it makes good sence to judge each person on merit rather than employment status.this puts a lot of honest people in a awfull situation both landlords having empty houses and tenants stuggling to find a home.i wouldnt mind having full checks done but every time ive tried to contact someone renting a house as soon as you state your on benifits thats it. all im asking for is to be treated the same as every 1 else and be given the same oppertunity as every 1 else.personally ive been renting from private landlords for over 20 years recently lost my job thanks to goverment cut backs now my ladlady has issued me with a section 21 notice just because ive lost my job even though weve been good tenants and lived here for 14 years and never missed or been late with one rent payment.thats not to state i might have a job next week.no not given the chance reguardless i quote"your on benifits now and i dont accept dhss tenants" oh well her loss.as stated i would just like to be treated the same as every 1 else. 37

Mike2011-05-09 13:42:07 Psycho,

As unpleasant as it is, DSS recipients are often refused for purely business reasons. In short, whilst many DSS recipients are good honest people, there are a far higher number of people in that group who are problem tenants than amongst non-dss recipients. Therefore, a landlord who accepts DSS recipients stands a significantly higher risk of being out of pocket than a landlord who does not.

The reason for this is simple - the DSS system is ****ed up. - not your fault and probably nothing you can do about it other than petitioning your MP - but because DSS is paid directly to the tenant and not to the landlord (except in specific situations) it's often the case that the money is spent before the rent can be paid. In this situation the landlord CAN apply to the council to have the rent paid direct, but at that point the landlord is already 2 months rent down, and the council can refuse. In either case the council will not pay any arrears and will not normally make any attempt to recover the unpaid rent from the tenant.

Properties occupied by DSS recipients are often also occupied for a greater percentage of the day, and therefore subject to higher wear and tear and greater risk of damage than from other tenants - even though both may look after the property equally well. 38

Cardifflandlord2011-05-09 14:34:04 In addition to Mikes excellent reply above, many insurers will not insure properties with DSS tenants in residence and many mortgage companies will not lend if DSS tenants are mentioned.

If you lie to your insurer or mortgage company as a landlord you can wave your funding goodbye if you get caught. So Psycho, I say again get your fact right before spouting bollocks!

The insurers/mortgage lenders will not take the risk because on balance of probabilities the DSS tenants will cause more problems than they solve for reasons given all over this site. If you have a problem with those companies "discriminating" then I suggest you contact their legal departments with your theory. I am sure they will provide you with reams of data relating to demographics to back up their lending rules. As always - it's the DSS scum who have f***** the system for those with a GENUINE need for a HAND UP and NOT a HAND OUT!

Petition your local MP to get the system changed and MAYBE then things will start to get better. 39

psycho2011-05-09 16:54:26 lol you like that word dont you(bollocks).
its obvious im banging my head against a brick wall here.
i m not even going to bother replying 40

mynewstart2011-06-14 21:50:52 I am trying to leave an abusive relationship with 2 young children and it has been awful finding that it is so difficult to privately rent a place of my own to raise my children in.

I have been treated with comtempt by several letting agents who virtually wouldn't even let me into their office once I enquired if they would consider a HB tennant. I didn't even get the chance to explain my situation, it was just a point blank refusal which is very disheartening indeed.

Like many of your other commenters I am also an educated person, I work and would only need a HB top up, but I feel that so many doors are being slammed in my face. It seems almost easier to stay in my marriage and tolerate the abuse than find somewhere else for me and my children to live. 41

Fedup2011-06-20 14:04:27 I have not read all the comments here but am posting because once again I have been refused a house on the grounds that I am DSS. I am a single parent of three children and really need a bigger property. I can understand the landlords perspective but there are many working people out there that do not pay their rent etc etc so where do you draw the line. I don't have my rent paid to me I have it paid direct to the landlord as it is also easier for me that way but in despite of this and being highly educated I still can't find a landlord that will take me on. I can't find a job and certainly not one that will cover my rent and bills etc.....I am a single parent because my partner left me, I am not one of these young girls that has a baby for the fun of it, I thought I was in a loving relationship but I was wrong..... I advise everyone to think as it might happen to you one day..... I am be on DDS now but I did not start out that way....remember that. 42

Fedup2011-06-20 14:06:27 that should say maybe not am be!! 43

Fedup2011-06-20 17:10:24 What’s confusing is that no one shouts at banks when they assess applicants for bank loans, but as soon as landlords try to protect their investment with a little risk assessment they automatically become morally crippled!!! If I got declined for credit due to my ill financial circumstances (for whatever reason), I’d understand because it’s not like I’m being told I can’t get credit because i’m overly qualified. Now that would be confusing!!

Banks assess you with a series of questions and checks, Landlords and Estate agents do not, the word DSS has them running for the hills so it is hardly the same thing..... this is what "decent" people claiming DSS want a right to be assessed on our individual situation, not pigeon holed by society. Answer me this, if you had a few working tenants that messed you about and didn't pay the rent would you also them claim to not accept working people because that does happen, I know a couple of people who have good jobs and just don't bother to pay their rent. 44

Matt2011-06-23 19:43:10 interesting...not all Landlords actually have the choice of accepting DSS tenants.
I am looking into a remortgage of a buy to let and one of the lenders criteria states NO DSS!!

http://www.buy-to-let-mortgages-uk.co.uk/platform_home_loans-75-tracker.htm 45

Mike2011-07-06 10:31:18 Interesting blog entry on lettingfocus which looks at local authorities, housing associations & private landlords being open to dss tenants. I particularly liked the following excerpt:

7. Action: Understand that failure in delivery of the “back end service” to private landlords can act as a stab in the back for the best designed and best communicated products. For example, not communicating with landlords over why LHA payments have suddenly stopped, trying to claim overpaid LHA when a landlord could not possibly know that tenant’s circumstances have changed, telling a non paying tenant on LHA to ignore court orders and stay until the bailiffs come etc, will undo the best marketing and most innovative of schemes.

http://www.lettingfocus.com/blogs/index.php/2011/07/discharging-homelessness-duty-to-the-private-rented-sector-but-where-is-the-property-in-the-prs/ 46

Stewart2011-08-06 23:05:46 So if a couple (one working and the other on disability benefits) were interested in renting a property and would not be claiming housing benefit, most landlords would be cool with that? (providing all the other stuff is fine such as references etc?) 47

Jack2011-09-07 14:38:58 Why don't landlords go the whole hog ..

No Blacks , No Irish , No Asians , No Foreigners , No Scottish , No Disabled , No Short people, No Tall people, No Fatties , No Redheads ,
No 4 eyed gits , No DSS.

In short anyone who isn't white , middle class & independently wealthy..
Strange isn't it one day you can be seen as an upright honest citizen (whilst in full time employment)& the next day you can only be viewed as nothing but a low life scum sucker because your employment ceased..
Great..

It should be illegal for you to recommend No DSS..
..IT IS OUTRIGHT DISCRIMINATION..
Mean while your scathing attack on the unemployed & trying to justify why landlords should not accept people as tenants due to being in receipt of DSS payments is outrageous ..
You are limiting those peoples opportunities to find decent accommodation & don't tell me that your going to be ripped off ..because with guarantors & your insurance policies ..you can be fully protected from loss just as you are with your employed tenants.
Most people on benefits are ordinary decent human beings who are no different to you ..they are just unemployed..

GOOD NEWS
I read recently that 40,000 Estate Agents have closed across the UK over the past 3 years due to the recession ..GOOD ..Maybe if they had accepted the DSS as tenants instead of being up their own arses they would still be in business ..
Hey some of them are probably looking for accommodation ..shame there'll be out of luck.. wont they .. 48

Dr James2011-11-15 13:59:23 Quite simply, don't become a landlord and turn housing into a business, since it is turning housing into a business that creates the problems you talk about. Try not being a landlord and run a proper business that doesn't exploit the terrible mess housing has become in this country and the culture of investment and greed which encourages people like yourself to make housing into a "profitable" business. If you don't wish to be seen to generalise, why not vet those potential DSS tenants so you only choose the good ones and not the bad ones. That way you won't be seen to be someone who says something and does the opposite. You will therefore be giving all people an equal chance regardless of their circumstances. And also if there is a shortfall in rents, why don't you make the shortfall up yourself if your making a nice profit out of other people's need for housing? Surely you're wealthy enough from the housing business to take a 100 pound a month hit to help someone less fortunate than yourself? I know people who rent property doing just that when they deal with tenants who have lost their job or find difficulty paying rent. But then they spend time getting to know the people rather than generalising about certain social groups. I even know one person who gives several months rent free to tenants who can't pay because of losing their job. That's because they realise they are in the business of housing and with that there comes great responsibility. You're not selling dog food. The risk you take in your landlord business unfortunately involves people and therefore you need to acknowledge that with maturity, compassion and discretion. Then maybe you wouldn't get such angry responses to your posts. Oh, and one other thing, why is not possible to find out about the landlords before we rent from people like you? Why is the rental market based on outdated stereotypes of tenants and endless do's and don'ts about who tenants should be and what they can do and can't do, when that kind of scrutiny is not equally applied to those running these housing rental businesses. Shouldn't your business and who you are be a little bit more transparent so we can judge whether we think you're going to rip us off or not do those repairs while making money out of us to pay for your new car or pension? 49

Benji2011-11-15 15:09:03 Doc, youre getting mixed up with running a business and running a charity. 50

Dr James2011-11-15 17:13:54 Benji, it isn't an either or - ruthless business or charity; you can also run a business with ethics as my father did and some of my friends do, were you can forfeit some of your profit and that next fancy car and bigger house for yourself, so that other people can live a better life too. That is not called running a charity, its called running a business with compassion and without greed and with ethics. Its not hard to do, it just requires some self-discipline, an open mind, an ability not to generalise, and to not be too possessive of wealth. It requires a cultural shift from a lazy outdated wealth driven form of capitalism which has no limits on individual wealth, to one that is less exploitative, less using, less selfish and greedy. Again, if you think housing is a business from which you can just make money out of without thinking of the social, cultural and individual consequences and responsibilities then you should try something else. It's nearing Christmas, maybe watching a re-run of "It's a Wonderful Life" should be on your Christmas film list. At least, take note that in the past housing was not so much a business, but a social good funded by non-profit making organisations." Oh, how times have changed... 51

Benji2011-11-15 17:47:32 Sorry Doc, I don't agree.

Landlording is a business not a charity, fail to make that distinction and sooner or later some scumbag will take you to the cleaners.

Nothing wrong with letting housing as a charity as long as youre aware that is what youre doing.

"A Christmas carol" is a far better festive story. Perhaps try reading a bit of Dickens. It would remove your rose tinted glasses about what housing was really like in the past.

Best Regards. 52

Dr James2011-11-15 20:50:11 Well, it is clear you have never been on the other side of the fence and poor and struggling with housing; It's interesting you say you don't agree with what I say - you have a right to do that, but without experiencing the other side of the fence just what value is your opinion worth? As I said being a landlord does not need to be an either/or business or charity. There is a middle ground which is worth exploring. As for Dickens, yeah things were really bad then, but that doesn't excuse lesser degrees of exploitation of housing now. Exploitation is not relative, exploitation is exploitation. However, I do remember the main point of "Christmas Carol" as being about obtaining wealth without compassion and humanity as being a rather pointless and souless exercise. Dickens realised that capitalism and business needed a compassionate core. And my point about "It's a Wonderful Life" is that in the story the building society made no profit out of helping people become homeowners; we've lost that business ethic and replaced it with housing as a form of investment, a form of wealth, and a form inequality which often pitches wealthy individuals against poorer ones, particular the younger and more vulnerable members of our society. Thanks for the chance of debating this issue with you. Best wishes. 53

Benji2011-11-15 21:21:38 Hi Doc,
Nice to chat.
All the best. 54

David Booth2011-11-24 21:07:35 No need to refuse DSS Tennants anymore

I would like to take my time to introduce you to our new company Tasker Payment Services. The company is designed as a one of it's kind payment service for DSS claimants and their landlords. Customers who do not have a bank account, or have large overdrafts eating into their Local Housing Allowance can use our service to have the peace of mind that their rent is paid straight to their landlord's bank account on time, every time.
With much experience in dealing with such payments, landlords can rely on Tasker Payment Services to provide them and their tenants with a reliable and secure way of receiving their rent.
We are fully registered with the FSA (registration number 564939) and can be found on the FSA's register of payment service providers.

The idea behind our company is simple the tennant agrees to pay our company (Tasker Payment Services) the money they get from the LHA and the landlord gets paid from us fortnightly. All we take £4.00 transaction fee for transferring the money to the landlords bank account.
This also helps out the council because they dont have to deal with arrears and it could help the council because more landlords would want to register because they know they are going to get paid.
If you would like to visit our website http://taskerpaymentservices.co.uk/ and read a little more about us if you have any questions please feel free to ask. 55

Jay2012-01-05 14:40:55 I completely understand that landlords are running a business and actually agree with some of your points (@landlord).

I can understand that dds comes with more risks than working people.

As you have said many times you 'take people on there own merits' however many lanlords out their don't even take the time of day because as soon as you say 'dds' they switch off and many put NO DDS on the property discription which puts many people off.

I'm 16 and live with my mother who has bi-polar amongst other mental illnesses and she pays the rent in our current property as soon as its due. many times its the council who bodge a payment which infact make the tenant look bad.

Like i said i understand that its 'your' business and as you may say you don't discriminate many other landlords do.

i also think that your langauge dosn't help, people are going to get mad if you talk like that.

But then again its your blog and i also find it quite amusing. 56

anon2012-01-22 21:52:22 Hi
you can claim dss without your landlord knowing ;)
less they know the better as long as they get their money every month on time and you're not a problem 57

David Booth2012-01-22 22:03:44 Councils cant always pay directly to he landlord unless the tennant gets into situations such as above why note try www.taskerpaymentservices.co.uk we make sure the landlord is paid on time everytime and you don't have the hassle of whether you are going to get paid!! 58

Benji2012-01-23 10:22:25 David, If/When you go bust, who pays the landlord? 59

Benji2012-01-23 10:24:53 Anon, What about employers references, credit checks, bank statements etc? 60

L Tasker2012-01-23 18:26:42 tasker payment services is Fsa registered and opts to safeguard funds, which means business funds and debts are segregated from LHA and rent received and paid. 61

Benji2012-01-23 20:57:29 L Tasker, D Booth etc,
Are you covered by the FSA financial services compensation scheme? As you are hopefully aware, payment services are not covered by the FSCS.

An unscrupulous rent collector (not saying that you are) could easily build up rent payments and then disappear overnight. That would cause a lot of pain to both landlords and tenants.

If you are on the level, why are you trying to get free advertising here? Why not do the honest thing and pay the site owner for an advert?

BTW, Im obviously not connected otherwise I'd have deleted all your spam already. 62

L Tasker2012-01-24 07:40:30 We do advertise on various sites and will look into ur suggestion. We are a new business and are currently setting up a fidelity assurance which covers the issues that you outlined. We are not a rent collection service, we are a payment service that operates on behalf of the tenant in line with the LHA rules of direct payment to the tenant. We are simply putting the information about the service we offer out tree so that tenants like the above are aware of it should they not have a bank account or are currently ovrdrawn. Tenants often don't have access to landlords sites, hence why we are using such methods to inform them what we do. As you can see above, alot of dss tenants welcome avenues which will aid them in their search for dss property. 63

sineace2012-01-24 07:56:14 at the end of the day it's about use and abuse, it isn't about working or dss, well not morally anyway, should we really keep labelling each other like this? There are plenty of disreputable working people too, there are working people that smoke, drink and take drugs and cause noise and trouble as there are dss people like this too, this is why we need a more personal service when it comes to things like this so we aren't all tarred with the same brush and the poor people who may have nothing at least are able to keep their dignity but it's a cold hard world we live in isn't it and the more the population grows the higher the figures will get of bad people. the only problems i've ever had paying the rent is when the social security office have messed up my housing benefit, another system that is flawed. So in some cases it's the housing that get the social security tenant the bad name but is that ever heard! 64

sineace2012-01-24 08:16:13 I actually do sympathize with the genuine DSS tenants that are struggling, HOWEVER, their lack of understanding and inability to appreciate the landlords’ perspective is bullshit and unbelievably boring.

how can u assume that struggling dss genuine tenants lack understanding and inability to appreciate the landlords perspective???? you can't

"the people hurling that abuse at me are probably receiving benefits because they’re uneducated delinquents, as opposed to educated single parents or those claiming for physical disabilities."
again, probably recieving benefits because they are uneducated, lol, do you think educated or disabled people are incapable of losing it!!! incapable of hurling abuse!!! i don't think so

and how you can know that banks have never had anyone rant and rave at them i dont know, so take your tiny penis and stick it where the sun don't shine baby, lol, people are unpredictable and that's people, not working, not dss, no labels, people, full stop. 65

sineace2012-01-24 08:52:50 all tenants should have a police check
rent should go direct to the land lord
abusers should be dealt with
and justice should be paramount
landlords should be protected
and labels should not exist
statistics have their place but aren't a true representation of the individual, and thats what we are, individual and should be dealt with as such, stats are taking things to the impersonal which isnt what we need to give a just service in any walk of life, they only give an average measure and turn us into numbers and not people, how sad 66