I Received An Email Of Complaint From A DSS Tenant
24 Apr 2009Rightly or wrongly so, I found this email rather quite amusing. I always welcome constructive criticism because it usually makes a good read, but most importantly, it gives me a little something different to blog about, which is cool.
Ok, so, I was advertising a vacant property available for rent on Gumtree. Gumtree worked a charm- I eventually Found A Tenant Through Gumtree.
I never removed the advert from Gumtree, even after I found a tenant. The property was still generating a few enquiries. I intentionally left the advert live because I didn’t want to remove it until the tenant had signed the Assured Shorthold Tenant Agreement and paid the deposit.
Part of the description I put in the advert was as follows:
Take note of the “NO DSS” part. In response, I received this email of complaint from J.K.Rowling:
NO DSS WHY IS THAT THEN ? MONEY IS MONEY AND HB IS MORE SECURE THEN SOMEONE WHO IS WORKING AND MAY LOOSE THERE JOB OR BECOME ILL OR DO YOU FEEL PEOPLE ON HB DONT DESERVE TO BE IN A HOUSE LIKE THAT IM IN WALTHAM ABBEY A LOVELY HOME LIKE YOURS AND YES IM ON HOUSING BENEFIT MY MONEY GOES DIRECT TO MY LANDLORD AND I HAVE BEEN HERE 4 YEARS NOW AND MY LANLORD HAS NEVER CONTACTED ME REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH RENT -IM SORRY BUT IM TRYING TO STOP PEOPLE LIKE YOU HAVING THIS BAD VIEW ABOUT PEOPLE ON HOUSING BENEFIT(HB).IM LOOKING TO MOVE BECAUSE I WANT A GARDEN BUT THE BIASED OPINIONS PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT HB IS SO UN FAIR .. IM FINDING IT REALLY HARD TO FIND ANYONE WHO WILL ACCEPT HOUSING BENEFIT ..
My thoughts…
- 1) lol @ the grammar, constant caps-lock, and ignorance of punctuation (would I be a ignorant shit if I said, “typical DSS”? Ok, fine, I won’t say it then)
- 2) From my experience, HB isn’t actually more secure than a working tenant. Housing Benefit can alter (usually lower) or even completely cease your allowance just as easily as someone can lose their job.
- 3) Your money goes direct to your landlord because you’re on “Housing Benefit”, which no longer exists, from April 2007. As soon as you move property and sign a new tenancy agreement, you’ll be put on Local Housing Allowance (LHA), and your allowance will go direct to YOU, and not the Landlord. More details: The Difference Between DSS Tenants on Housing Benefit (HB) And DSS Tenants On Local Housing Allowance (LHA).
- 4) I don’t accept DSS tenants based on my personal bad experiences. So it’s not just a random idea I’ve conjured up without any basis.
- 5) I wonder what this individual actually hopes to achieve by sending out emails like that. To change my mind? That’s what it actually seems like.
Final Thoughts
I hear this story a lot, and I actually sympathise with ALL the genuine, hard-working, unfortunate DSS tenants out there. They DO have a hard time. Not being able to seek appropriate accommodation because of personal circumstances, through no fault of their own, is extremely sad. But in order for things to be right, I don’t think it’s a case of landlords simply being more “open-minded”, I think it’s a case of the system needing to be improved.
I’ve written a lot about DSS Tenants in the past, and I’ve dealt with my fare share of them. I know what the system is like, and frankly, it sucks dog shit.
I’m not saying DSS tenants are scumbags (I’ve had GREAT DSS tenants in the past), I’m saying the system is dog shit. More explained here: DSS Tenants And The Shitty Council.
As I’ve always maintained, a DSS Tenant is just like a regular tenant- you get the good and the bad. However, they do, unfortunate as it may be, have a grey cloud following them because of the bad press they receive. I personally think one issue is undeniable though- DSS tenants are way more complicated than the average employed tenant. Some of the complications are explained, along with tips for anyone considering providing tenancy to a DSS tenant, right over there: Tips For Taking On DSS Tenants
The bottom line is, Landlords want security, especially in this uncertain climate. EVERY Landlord wants to be sure that they’re going to receive their rent on time, throughout the entire tenancy. So, now that tenants directly receive their allowances, I don’t feel secure with a DSS Tenant. Perhaps that’s just me being a pompous, ignorant ass.
If it came down to a working professional Vs DSS, a working professional would win EVERY TIME. It’s a no-brainer, and I don’t think I need to explain my reasons…or do I? In order to even consider a DSS tenant, I’d need some kind of incentive, but the council removed the most convincing advantage for landlords when the LHA was introduced, and removed the “direct payment to landlord” policy. That was a HUGE blow. Since the change, a lot of Landlords have felt the burn, research has shown many tenants are failing to pass on these payments to landlords.
The research* shows that 52 per cent of landlords surveyed have decided they would not let, or be ‘less likely’ to let, to LHA tenants. A further 43 per cent of those landlords who have already tried the new system said they would now be leaving this failing market because of increased uncertainty about rent payments.
So, do Landlords have a good reason not to accept DSS tenants? Yes. Why? There’s no fucking incentive to consider them anymore.
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Talk / 19 Comments left so far
"a" ignorant shit?? Maybe you did that on purpose, but I doubt it.
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I didn't do it on purpose =/
Regardless, there's a difference between a few mistakes and complete ignorance of basic grammar, innit :)
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Yes I know it's stereotyping and not ALL DSS are stupid - BUT is does seem to have worked for them.
Would suggest a more suitable content fo rthe letter though!
Jools
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1. Remember that DSS will always pay less housing benefit (HB) than the tenant expects or tells you he will get. The tenant will have to make up the difference from his own pocket. Check whether he can afford it (usually not).
2. Always get the tenant to tick the box that gives permission for landlord to enquire about the HB. Alternatively, get the tenant to sign the form. This way you can chase up any problems without relying on the tenant. Do not let a tenant move in without this permission granted!
3. The only way to get HB paid direct to landlord these days is for the tenant to get a doctors letter, saying that he can not manage his finances. Consider asking the tenant to make up a problem to tell his doctor.
4. I don't see why we should take DSS tenants without landlord direct, if we don't have to. The only way to get the government to change is to boycott DSS tenants completely.
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Some great tips there, many thanks.
I've added them to my Tips for taking on DSS tenants section.
I'm not entirely sure about point number 2, though. Can you provide more details on the box that should be ticked? E.g which form is the box on, and what rights does it give to the Landlord?
Many thanks
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I think the idea behind the shift from direct payments to landlords, to the tenant, is the idea that the tenant becomes much more responsible for their own lives, rather than the state interfering too much. Although obviously it doesn't seem to be working like that. Secondly, the issues concerning landlords and the state is a very big political one, where landlords are not considered an important part of of the democratic system. What I mean is, landlords votes, are not seen as important votes in elections. This is well known in academic circles concerning housing. So the state makes their lives very difficult, and always puts the tenant before the property owner. This puts those of us who are responsible, in a difficult situation. But having said this, the state in the process is doing the same thing to the tenant as well.
I have had my own issues with landlords who have not been fair to me, but I have landlords who have been absolutely brilliant, and patient. So it's six of one and half dozen of the other.
My solution? Well I think the system has to change drastically. More social housing needs to be built. A dialogue opened up between tenant, the state, and the landlords, and some sort of incentive for landlords to consider claimants again. I think there is a serious political issue here as well, as I've said, and the state/government needs to acknowledge the idea of democracy for everyone, not just key voters. And private landlords, after all, do play a key role in the economy and in housing, so why aren't you given that acknowledgment.
As for me, I always make sure that it is me who is in charge of paying the rent (wherever that comes from). I get the rent paid to me and then straight on to the landlord. This means I don't have to disclose my occupation, and that I can find a home, without being stereotyped, or made to feel inferior when having to claim HB. And unfortunately, this is one of my problems with some landlords. Having HB paid directly to me and then to the landlord works well, and I have never defaulted on my rent. Ever.
So that's my pound of flesh. And it's merely an opinion that doesn't reflect my political leanings or any other bias. It's just how I observe the situation. And at least I can spell, and my grammar is reasonable :D
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DSS and HB is fucking shit. i have had enough. the fuckers dont pay the rent when its payed driectly to them. they cant even get blacklisted for it. they have to do it like 5 different times before council consider banning them from borough list. all wankers, working cash in hand, benefit fraudsters. stupid government, cant wait till tories come in power, they dont give a shit about anyone i think, no more benefits for sure"
I think this is an assumption that has been made very a very very small minded individual. In certain circumstances, yes, people do take the proverbial when it comes to benefits, but that is a very small box to put a whole bunch of people in.
I do not consider myself as scummy or whatever it is that people on DSS get labelled as. I consider myself somebody who has paid tax since I was 18 years old, and now that I am in a bit of hot water, I am merely getting money back from the Government that I have paid. My neighbour is a Hairdresser, who is employed with Tony And Guy would you believe, and hasn't paid her rent in nearly 3 months now. I am on HB and have not missed a payment yet. Ironic much????
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My entire argument was about how DSS tenants have it tough, and you get both good and bad DSS tenants, just like with normal employed tenants.
Either way, you sound like a complete dick/psycho/dumb fuck. And I don't sympathise with people like you because of your irrational behavior.
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Thing is, you can dress a turd up in a Chanel suit and Jimmy Choos but at the end of the day - it's still a turd!
If you want fairness try communism - I hear it's all rosy in China.
TB
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When I first heard of the stupidity of paying LHA direct to tenants I attended a number of meeting and wrote to my MP. I was told that the initiative to to help empower people. It's been my recent experience that temptation has been placed in the way of a number of people who are unable to resist it. Strangely enough Christmas and the week before secondary schools went back were both months I received no rent from LHA tenants that were paid directly. It also strikes me as odd that the legislation does not apply to ALMO's and Housing Associations. So it's fine for struggling private landlords not to get paid but completely unacceptable for local government quangos or their feather bed mates.
I manage a number of properties for people who are just normal common all garden working folk who thought that buying a rental property would be a good pension for them. How wrong some have been. What with banks repossessing like property is going out of fashion forcing prices down all over the country, lenders not lending and tenants not paying it's far from a good pension at the moment.
I have every sympathy with LHA tenants but I'm now in the unfortunate position, as are many agents, where all my landlords are saying absolutely no LHA's. That's not the tenants fault nor is it prejudice against the individuals it's people being sick and tires of a government that scorned private landlords as the scum of the earth but couldn't provide accommodation without them.
I'll finish with an anecdote. The worst paying tenant i had was regional sales manager for a major media company earning in excess of £30k pa and didn't pay for 8 months. The best tenant I've had is DSS has had her own money since before this stupid system was introduced and hasn't missed a day in 3 years.
Giggs
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The landlord says he can't do anything!! We just have to wait 2 more months for his contract to end and then pray for him to be evicted!
DSS should be paid directly to landlord at all times!
This is so annoying! Honest people have to pay for everything and these guys receive money for food, rent, etc.. and still don't pay! That's a joke, what a bunch of losers and the worst is: WE ARE THE ONES PAYING FOR THEM TO WATCH TV ALL DAY!!
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How about a well structured and informed argument Coleen? I agree with the Landlord - you have no idea what you are on about!
Spent a lot of time picking a name so I appreciate your comment. Makes me feel all warm and cosy inside.
TB
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Please leave a comment
I initially started this website because I wanted to document my every step from property idiot to property landlord,
in hope that people would find my site and help me along the way. I literally didn't have a clue about being a landlord
when I started this website.
Jools
PS only joking Dr Nogood! I have seen her on telly though but without the Burberry cap, large hoop ear-rings, the 16 year old Ford Scorpio and big fuck off dog.
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