Tips For DSS Tenants That Can’t Find A Property To Rent
Written by The Landlord on 08 Mar 2010I’m usually writing about DSS tenants in bad light, but that’s because I’ve had shitty experiences with them. However, I know there are a lot of genuinely decent DSS tenants out there struggling to find landlords and letting agents that will accept them because of the damage the piss-taking DSS tenants have inflicted.
It would genuinely take a lot for me to consider accepting another DSS tenant because of what I’ve experienced, but I know what would work in their favour if they were ever to try and convince me. Sadly, DSS tenants are in a position where they have to convince landlords. To stand the best chance, here are a few tips:
1] Rental History
Rental history for a DSS tenant is vital. If you have positive rental history as a DSS tenant, it will show you’re still able to pay rent and respect the property and neighbourhood you live in.
Present your landlord with references and contact details of your previous landlord.
2] Get a Guarantor
Arrange a Guarantor that has stability – a well paid job and a home of their own.
3] Rental insurance
Offer to pay for rental insurance, so your landlord is reassured he/she will never lose out on rent. This option could involve a premium of a few hundred pounds, but it could be the safety net which will convince a landlord.
4] Get the council to pay directly to landlords
By default, tenants receive their housing benefit directly from the council, which they are then expected to pass onto their landlords. Of course, that wasn’t always the case- landlords used to receive the rent directly from the council. When that was the case, landlords were a lot more willing to take on DSS tenants. Some local councils will still pay direct to landlords under special circumstances.
See if you can get this arranged with your council, so your landlord receives the rent directly. It will be an extremely compelling arrangement for your prospective landlord.
5] Look in newspapers and websites like Gumtree
More and more letting agents are refusing to let DSS tenants in through the front door, so options are limited.
You’re best bet is to approach landlords directly, and the best way to do that is by looking in your local newspapers and websites like Gumtree, where private landlords market their properties.
6] Offer to put down a bigger security deposit
Typically, landlords will require one month’s rent to cover the security deposit.
The most a landlord can charge for any security deposit is the total of two month’s rent for an unfurnished property, or three month’s rent for a furnished property.
If you have the spare cash, offer to pay 2/3 months worth of a deposit.
7] Yes to DSS
I came across this website recently, Yes to DSS. Not entirely sure how it works or what they do, but their website says they specialise in providing quality private homes to tenants in receipt of Housing Benefit and Local Housing Allowance. It’s worth checking out!
Does anyone else have any other tips for the DSS community caught in the struggle?
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46 Comments - join the conversation...
The Landlord2010-03-09 18:12:44
Hey Kris,
I'm not saying all the steps are easy to accomplish, I'm merely implying they're things DSS tenants can consider to help get accommodation. Especially those desperate (which a lot of them seem to be)
Insurance isn't that expensive, about £100-£200 per year. The deposit will be returned providing the tenants behave, so I don't think you can entirely class that as an extra expense.
I personally think a Guarantor is a great security net. Look at this way, if a tenant can't find someone close to them to vouch for them, why would a landlord trust them?
If you read my point about rental history again, you'll notice I said, "If you have positive rental history as a DSS tenant" - operative term being "AS A DSS TENANT"
Kind regards
I'm not saying all the steps are easy to accomplish, I'm merely implying they're things DSS tenants can consider to help get accommodation. Especially those desperate (which a lot of them seem to be)
Insurance isn't that expensive, about £100-£200 per year. The deposit will be returned providing the tenants behave, so I don't think you can entirely class that as an extra expense.
I personally think a Guarantor is a great security net. Look at this way, if a tenant can't find someone close to them to vouch for them, why would a landlord trust them?
If you read my point about rental history again, you'll notice I said, "If you have positive rental history as a DSS tenant" - operative term being "AS A DSS TENANT"
Kind regards
2
Smithy2010-03-09 20:02:57
You say:-
"The most a landlord can charge for any security deposit is the total of two month’s rent for an unfurnished property, or three month’s rent for a furnished property".
Is this a regulation?
"The most a landlord can charge for any security deposit is the total of two month’s rent for an unfurnished property, or three month’s rent for a furnished property".
Is this a regulation?
3
The Landlord2010-03-09 20:58:52
From what I'm aware, the amount of deposit charged can vary but by law cannot exceed two month’s rent. If the deposit exceeds two month's rent, it could in theory count as a premium, consequently may give the tenant an automatic right to assign the lease without the landlord's consent. The terms of the tenancy agreement should stop this from happening, but as a precaution the deposit shouldn't exceed two months' rent.
4
Sam2010-03-19 12:20:47
Landlord I agree with your points, in theory. However, the issue is these people often have very little money which is why they are often rejected by landlords and letting agents. The insurance you mention which is £100-200 per year, may sound OK to you and me, but to many of these people who are trying to live on £30 per week, this is just too much.
5
ProfessionalOnDSS2010-03-19 19:18:34
Hi all,
Those are certainly great tips Landlord, I already do at least one of them - I've arranged for my local council to pay my rent direct to landlord too to which I add a top up on a monthly basis (I'm under old HB rules...)
I want to move at moment and must say I'm finding it hard to find somewhere that doesn't make DSS tenants jump through hoops because of bad experiences with the real layabouts. I'm on HB due to long term ill health but I'm professionally qualified with letters after my name lol so am not a scallywag!
About the guarantor thing - I agree that one would assume a person wasn't trustworthy if they couldn't find anyone to act as security on their behalf. However, certainly for me, I actually feel embarassed to ask working home owning friends and family to be my guarantor! Even though I am trustworthy and they probably wouldn't mind, I really don't feel comfortable putting them in that position in the first place. It intertwines friendship/family with personal finances and....you know?
Besides, having a well paid job and a home of ones own doesn't automatically equal stability or trustworthiness either. There are plenty of irresponsible immoral rich homeowners in the world - for starters just look no further than Downing Street and the average international banker! The last neighbour I had was not DSS, worked for a living and they were so antisocial towards me I had to leave my current home and go and stay with family until they moved out....!
So, despite the fact that I'm professionally qualified and speak 3 languages I find myself grappling with DSS prejudice all of the time and, for the reasons outlined above about the grass not always being greener on the employed/homeowner side, I only partly understand the landlords perspective.
I do think there are prejudicial barriers to break down re DSS tenants and how we are perceived and treated. I'd like to see changes made - perhaps character references and bank/financial statements showing consistently paid rent etc could take the place of embarassing guarantor arrangements and high deposit fees/insurance.
There are many ways a landlord can feel secure in a tenant, DSS or not. In my view, no well paid job or fancy pad on the part of a guarantor can beat several excellent character references and consistently paid rent on a statement in black and white going back months no matter who the tenant is.
Pro ;)
Those are certainly great tips Landlord, I already do at least one of them - I've arranged for my local council to pay my rent direct to landlord too to which I add a top up on a monthly basis (I'm under old HB rules...)
I want to move at moment and must say I'm finding it hard to find somewhere that doesn't make DSS tenants jump through hoops because of bad experiences with the real layabouts. I'm on HB due to long term ill health but I'm professionally qualified with letters after my name lol so am not a scallywag!
About the guarantor thing - I agree that one would assume a person wasn't trustworthy if they couldn't find anyone to act as security on their behalf. However, certainly for me, I actually feel embarassed to ask working home owning friends and family to be my guarantor! Even though I am trustworthy and they probably wouldn't mind, I really don't feel comfortable putting them in that position in the first place. It intertwines friendship/family with personal finances and....you know?
Besides, having a well paid job and a home of ones own doesn't automatically equal stability or trustworthiness either. There are plenty of irresponsible immoral rich homeowners in the world - for starters just look no further than Downing Street and the average international banker! The last neighbour I had was not DSS, worked for a living and they were so antisocial towards me I had to leave my current home and go and stay with family until they moved out....!
So, despite the fact that I'm professionally qualified and speak 3 languages I find myself grappling with DSS prejudice all of the time and, for the reasons outlined above about the grass not always being greener on the employed/homeowner side, I only partly understand the landlords perspective.
I do think there are prejudicial barriers to break down re DSS tenants and how we are perceived and treated. I'd like to see changes made - perhaps character references and bank/financial statements showing consistently paid rent etc could take the place of embarassing guarantor arrangements and high deposit fees/insurance.
There are many ways a landlord can feel secure in a tenant, DSS or not. In my view, no well paid job or fancy pad on the part of a guarantor can beat several excellent character references and consistently paid rent on a statement in black and white going back months no matter who the tenant is.
Pro ;)
6
Sam2010-03-20 06:34:16
ProfessionalonDSS I understand your frustration, but I fear you are in the minority. You are obviously articulate and have found yourself in this position through no fault of your own.
I agree that we need to start breaking down DSS prejudices - the issue is when DSS people continue to create more and more problems for themselves (and others) by:
1. not passing on rent paid by HB and the landlord having to wait 8 weeks without rent before they get paid by the council
2. by moving house and not bothering to tell the landlord so that the council stop paying him (even when HB is paid direct)
3. by deciding they don't want a private rental and opting for a council house and moving within 2 days and not giving the legally required one month notice
4. by not paying any top up rent which may be required by the council and expecting the landlord to be ok with that as "he is rich enough already"
5. by expecting everything to be paid for by someone else mentality and never doing any small or routine maintenance in the property
6. by always wanting some sort of pet and retrospectively asking for permission when the dog is in, ripped up carpets, scratched doors and the whole place smells like a kennel
I could go on, but I won't.
The issue here is that I deal with a lot of HB claimants and yes I agree there are stereotypes - but they exist and perpetuate because there are still many people out there who do all of what I have said and more. That means landlords and agents do not really want to deal with that type of tenant. Unfortunately, while this type of behaviour persists so will the stereotypes and thus so will the prejudices.
I agree that we need to start breaking down DSS prejudices - the issue is when DSS people continue to create more and more problems for themselves (and others) by:
1. not passing on rent paid by HB and the landlord having to wait 8 weeks without rent before they get paid by the council
2. by moving house and not bothering to tell the landlord so that the council stop paying him (even when HB is paid direct)
3. by deciding they don't want a private rental and opting for a council house and moving within 2 days and not giving the legally required one month notice
4. by not paying any top up rent which may be required by the council and expecting the landlord to be ok with that as "he is rich enough already"
5. by expecting everything to be paid for by someone else mentality and never doing any small or routine maintenance in the property
6. by always wanting some sort of pet and retrospectively asking for permission when the dog is in, ripped up carpets, scratched doors and the whole place smells like a kennel
I could go on, but I won't.
The issue here is that I deal with a lot of HB claimants and yes I agree there are stereotypes - but they exist and perpetuate because there are still many people out there who do all of what I have said and more. That means landlords and agents do not really want to deal with that type of tenant. Unfortunately, while this type of behaviour persists so will the stereotypes and thus so will the prejudices.
7
paula manning2010-04-05 09:44:57
i am in this boat i have been in this property 6 years with excellent record, i am single mum with 2 kids i am building up my own business but work 4 days a week and get some help from dss. i have guarantor and rent/deposit but nobody will touch me. i really wanna move out this street but people look down their nose at us.
8
Dezra2010-04-13 12:27:36
I have just come across this website and must say, it has been very informative.
I am a housing benefit tenant looking for a new home for my partner, son and myself. I didn't realise private landlords were adverse to renting to hb tenants. It's been so hard trying to find a suitable home for my family and I. I understand landlords' apprehension to let to hb tenants, but we're not all lazy people who sit at home all day and don't do anything constructive with their lives. My partner, 23, works 40 hours a week, but I do not.I am a part time graduate student look after our 3 year old son.
Its horrible that some has give the majority of hb tenants such a bad reputation. Now I am looking for somewhere to rent, and I have to be judged on someone elses behaviour, and you can't even blame the landlords because I would probably do the same in their position.
I am a housing benefit tenant looking for a new home for my partner, son and myself. I didn't realise private landlords were adverse to renting to hb tenants. It's been so hard trying to find a suitable home for my family and I. I understand landlords' apprehension to let to hb tenants, but we're not all lazy people who sit at home all day and don't do anything constructive with their lives. My partner, 23, works 40 hours a week, but I do not.I am a part time graduate student look after our 3 year old son.
Its horrible that some has give the majority of hb tenants such a bad reputation. Now I am looking for somewhere to rent, and I have to be judged on someone elses behaviour, and you can't even blame the landlords because I would probably do the same in their position.
9
Jools2010-04-13 15:18:02
Paula & Dezra,
Hope you get something sorted soon. I know that you hard working people get a bum deal and you are tarred with the same brush as the wasters.
Wish there was an easy alternative to this.
Cheers
Jools
Hope you get something sorted soon. I know that you hard working people get a bum deal and you are tarred with the same brush as the wasters.
Wish there was an easy alternative to this.
Cheers
Jools
10
justenquiring2010-04-19 22:19:41
I too want to move to a new area to be nearer my elderly mum .& to make a fresh start after my recent Divorce .unfortunatly due to accident at work I can no longer work & have to rely on HB but thats not my fault.. I would insist that the rent was paid direct to my landlord ,But as others have stated DSS/HB tenents have bad press & its unfair that we are all classed the same .I have lived in my current home over 20 years
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Nikki2010-04-21 19:22:27
In response to The Landlord statement,
"I personally think a Guarantor is a great security net. Look at this way, if a tenant can't find someone close to them to vouch for them, why would a landlord trust them?"
As much as I agree that this is a great safety net for landlords to ensure that they are protected, what about people such as myself, who are unable to get a guarantor due to personal circumstances which have seen me disowned by my own family and many of my friends? This is not for some criminal reason, but for the simple fact that I am transgendered! I have had to experience a hell of a lot of discrimination in the past, where I was pushed to the point of almost killing myself at my last place of work! One of the reasons I was medically dismissed!
The question is, just because I am in a position where I cannot get a guarantor, does that make me someone who is not trustworthy? Is it yet another form of discrimination I have to endure all because people with severe prejudices have caused me so much pain!
I have worked damned hard all my life and this is the first time I have ever been out of work....this does not make me a criminal, a scrounger or any number of things I have seen posted on here by landlords!
I personally think that some of the landlords on here need to take a good look at themselves before they go slagging off DSS tenants! I remember a time when landlords couldn't be trusted and abused their position to ensure they kept bonds and not do repairs...one of the reasons the legislation came in to protect tenants bonds etc.
I am not claiming that all landlords are guilty of this, but the fact is many have been in the past!
As part of my efforts to return to work, I have gone back to studying and I joined this website in order to help get an insight into the thoughts of both landlords and tenants from a wide range of backgrounds, as it is property law which I am studying. To be honest, all it has done by reading many of the comments on here, is convince me that there is a serious case of "discrimination against DSS tenants" which needs addressing sooner rather than later! Some of the comments I have read are very offensive, which if stood in a court of law and claimed, would not stand a cat in hells chance of getting away with!
Yes, there are a lot of people who abuse the DSS system, but believe me when I say that there are a lot of people out there who are unemployed who would much rather be working than having to sign on! Me being one of them!
Nikki
"I personally think a Guarantor is a great security net. Look at this way, if a tenant can't find someone close to them to vouch for them, why would a landlord trust them?"
As much as I agree that this is a great safety net for landlords to ensure that they are protected, what about people such as myself, who are unable to get a guarantor due to personal circumstances which have seen me disowned by my own family and many of my friends? This is not for some criminal reason, but for the simple fact that I am transgendered! I have had to experience a hell of a lot of discrimination in the past, where I was pushed to the point of almost killing myself at my last place of work! One of the reasons I was medically dismissed!
The question is, just because I am in a position where I cannot get a guarantor, does that make me someone who is not trustworthy? Is it yet another form of discrimination I have to endure all because people with severe prejudices have caused me so much pain!
I have worked damned hard all my life and this is the first time I have ever been out of work....this does not make me a criminal, a scrounger or any number of things I have seen posted on here by landlords!
I personally think that some of the landlords on here need to take a good look at themselves before they go slagging off DSS tenants! I remember a time when landlords couldn't be trusted and abused their position to ensure they kept bonds and not do repairs...one of the reasons the legislation came in to protect tenants bonds etc.
I am not claiming that all landlords are guilty of this, but the fact is many have been in the past!
As part of my efforts to return to work, I have gone back to studying and I joined this website in order to help get an insight into the thoughts of both landlords and tenants from a wide range of backgrounds, as it is property law which I am studying. To be honest, all it has done by reading many of the comments on here, is convince me that there is a serious case of "discrimination against DSS tenants" which needs addressing sooner rather than later! Some of the comments I have read are very offensive, which if stood in a court of law and claimed, would not stand a cat in hells chance of getting away with!
Yes, there are a lot of people who abuse the DSS system, but believe me when I say that there are a lot of people out there who are unemployed who would much rather be working than having to sign on! Me being one of them!
Nikki
12
Sam2010-04-21 19:33:09
Nikki i can understand your frustration at being tarred with the same brush as other DSS tenants. The issue that happens is that you see "behavioural patterns" from certain types of tenants and thus that forms the basis for future thoughts/behaviours. Any business will go through certain checks as to who they want to do business with and that is the same as landlords - we check who we want to do business with. If there are a large number of a certain type of tenant who you have had issues with then you tend to avoid them as your customers in the future - this is nothing personal, I am just giving you an insight into the way a landlord will operate. As a agency, we are one of the few locally who actually accept DSS - so i am not your enemy.
13
Nikki2010-04-22 18:21:40
Hi Sam,
Thanks for your reply. I understand all too well about behavioural patterns, as I have studied them as part of a degree course I did many years ago and yes, I can see why a landlords thoughts would automatically be biased against poor DSS relations in the past.
At the moment, this country has one of the highest unemployment rates it has had for a long time and a lot of many long time hard working people have been forced out of what were once secure jobs.
There are many reasons why this has happened, which I will not go into on here, as it is just distracting from the point we are discussing, but needless to say they are reasons which have been caused by some severe mis-management of many institutions.
The fact I am trying to make more than any, is something needs to be done to alter some of the prejudiced attitudes towards all DSS tenants a great many landlords seem to think they have the right to.
I have mentioned on other threads on here, that landlords themselves are not always the ones with the high moral grounds...hence the reason why legislation to protect tenants from rogue landlords is constantly being revised and introduced in order to protect tenants!
Just because someone who has been recently made unemployed has to claim help does not make them a criminal or a scrounger or will trash the house they are renting! This type of attitude is extremely offensive and very discriminating!
Studying law where I am, has led me to meet some quite influential people and I have showed them a lot of the comments on here and they find it fascinating, although not surprised, that such discrimination exists, especially in a society where discrimination is allegedly frowned upon in all other parts of society. Like one person mentioned, it equates to the equivelent of discriminating against someone for their race or sexuality and its only a matter of time before someone makes a comment on here that is libelous and will blow the whole thing wide open for all to see.
As an agency, I am assuming you charge people for credit checks and checking references etc...(quite a lot of money if I recall correctly for typing a bit of information into a database!) if not, then you are probably in the minority! Should you check the history of many people who are now unemployed, it will show through companies such as Experian etc, whether that person has ever had problems paying rent etc. Also the references from previous landlords should be a clear indication as to what state the property was left in and what type of tenants they have been! After all, if some of the comments on this website are anything to go by, then I can only assume that the references will be quite detailed and all minute discrepancies will be mentioned!
If this is the case, then other than sorting out the benefits to ensure they are paid on time, then there should be no real reason to refuse someone the choice of renting a property...after all, they person has only been unfortunate enough to become unemployed... not had all moral decency taken out of them!
The comment on the way a landlord will operate, makes me wonder...if a company such as the Royal Mail decided to suddenly stop delivering the mail of all the customers from Manchester, just because the stamps had fallen off some customers letters,so all Manchester people must instantly be unable to put on a stamp correctly, would there be no outcry of discrimination? It may sound a little extreme to compare a hypothetical situation like that to the landlord situation, but it does highlight the absurdity of the notion that all DSS Tenants are potential problem makers!
Where is your agency based? If you accept DSS, then I am more than interested in talking to you. I am currently looking for somewhere to rent and I am based in the Chesterfield area.
Nikki
Thanks for your reply. I understand all too well about behavioural patterns, as I have studied them as part of a degree course I did many years ago and yes, I can see why a landlords thoughts would automatically be biased against poor DSS relations in the past.
At the moment, this country has one of the highest unemployment rates it has had for a long time and a lot of many long time hard working people have been forced out of what were once secure jobs.
There are many reasons why this has happened, which I will not go into on here, as it is just distracting from the point we are discussing, but needless to say they are reasons which have been caused by some severe mis-management of many institutions.
The fact I am trying to make more than any, is something needs to be done to alter some of the prejudiced attitudes towards all DSS tenants a great many landlords seem to think they have the right to.
I have mentioned on other threads on here, that landlords themselves are not always the ones with the high moral grounds...hence the reason why legislation to protect tenants from rogue landlords is constantly being revised and introduced in order to protect tenants!
Just because someone who has been recently made unemployed has to claim help does not make them a criminal or a scrounger or will trash the house they are renting! This type of attitude is extremely offensive and very discriminating!
Studying law where I am, has led me to meet some quite influential people and I have showed them a lot of the comments on here and they find it fascinating, although not surprised, that such discrimination exists, especially in a society where discrimination is allegedly frowned upon in all other parts of society. Like one person mentioned, it equates to the equivelent of discriminating against someone for their race or sexuality and its only a matter of time before someone makes a comment on here that is libelous and will blow the whole thing wide open for all to see.
As an agency, I am assuming you charge people for credit checks and checking references etc...(quite a lot of money if I recall correctly for typing a bit of information into a database!) if not, then you are probably in the minority! Should you check the history of many people who are now unemployed, it will show through companies such as Experian etc, whether that person has ever had problems paying rent etc. Also the references from previous landlords should be a clear indication as to what state the property was left in and what type of tenants they have been! After all, if some of the comments on this website are anything to go by, then I can only assume that the references will be quite detailed and all minute discrepancies will be mentioned!
If this is the case, then other than sorting out the benefits to ensure they are paid on time, then there should be no real reason to refuse someone the choice of renting a property...after all, they person has only been unfortunate enough to become unemployed... not had all moral decency taken out of them!
The comment on the way a landlord will operate, makes me wonder...if a company such as the Royal Mail decided to suddenly stop delivering the mail of all the customers from Manchester, just because the stamps had fallen off some customers letters,so all Manchester people must instantly be unable to put on a stamp correctly, would there be no outcry of discrimination? It may sound a little extreme to compare a hypothetical situation like that to the landlord situation, but it does highlight the absurdity of the notion that all DSS Tenants are potential problem makers!
Where is your agency based? If you accept DSS, then I am more than interested in talking to you. I am currently looking for somewhere to rent and I am based in the Chesterfield area.
Nikki
14
Smithy2010-04-22 20:10:01
The bottom line is that I am allowing complete strangers to have full use of my property which is worth over £100,000.
A comparison with stamps falling off the envelopes does not stack up.
A comparison with stamps falling off the envelopes does not stack up.
15
justenquiring2010-04-22 20:33:46
Smithy
Are you saying that people in Receipt of DSS are more likely to trash your property than someone working? How do you know the employed person was not at one point on DSS ? I fail to see that being on DSS or Working would make a Person less likely to look after your Property
Are you saying that people in Receipt of DSS are more likely to trash your property than someone working? How do you know the employed person was not at one point on DSS ? I fail to see that being on DSS or Working would make a Person less likely to look after your Property
16
Nikki2010-04-22 20:35:33
Isn't that the whole point of renting in the first place? renting it out to someone who you probably do not know! If the correct checks have been done and it has shown the person has never once faulted or caused a problem, then surely regardless of the cost of the house, which in your case, I might say is quite cheap compared to some properties I have lived in, then surely all the legal and moral concerns have been covered!
What is to say that if you got a private tenant in, that your property is any better off protected?
Or are we getting back to the whole point I have been making that you as a landlord see DSS tenants as nothing but scum who will trash your property and refuse to pay you rent?
Maybe like someone said on another thread, I have hit a raw nerve here...but if it highlights the problem and forces people to discuss it, then as far as I am concerned, it is a good thing as it will only help to bring out into the open the problems both sides experience! Maybe then something productive can be done to sort out the problem and the need for constant slagging off by both sides can be put aside to focus on the real issues!
What is to say that if you got a private tenant in, that your property is any better off protected?
Or are we getting back to the whole point I have been making that you as a landlord see DSS tenants as nothing but scum who will trash your property and refuse to pay you rent?
Maybe like someone said on another thread, I have hit a raw nerve here...but if it highlights the problem and forces people to discuss it, then as far as I am concerned, it is a good thing as it will only help to bring out into the open the problems both sides experience! Maybe then something productive can be done to sort out the problem and the need for constant slagging off by both sides can be put aside to focus on the real issues!
17
Smithy2010-04-22 21:15:32
If the Housing Benefit tenant can get a home owning guarantor, credit checks and references, then I will consider them.
Incidentally, I have rented to three HB tenants. Two have been fine - although I have had problems with the vagaries HB department. The third has been a complete nightmare.
But as I said before, I am allowing them free rein of a valuable asset and I will try and get the best tenant I can find.
Incidentally, I have rented to three HB tenants. Two have been fine - although I have had problems with the vagaries HB department. The third has been a complete nightmare.
But as I said before, I am allowing them free rein of a valuable asset and I will try and get the best tenant I can find.
18
Nikki2010-04-22 21:54:19
I am certainly not disputing you wish to have the best tenant you can find and I am sorry you have had issues with your third housing benefits tenant, but like you have mentioned, two of them have been fine!
What is it that makes you believe that a private tenant will not cause you any problems?
My main question was, as a landlord do you see all DSS tenants as scum who will damage your property and refuse to pay you rent? I am not currently interested in the price of your property or if it is a valuable asset, as this isn't the issue I was trying to raise.
My original post was also asking the question about people in extreme circumstances like myself...and I was in someways trying to get a response which would help me find a way around the situation I am in.
I am in no way the scum you appear to think a DSS person is. I am just someone who is in a bad situation through societies ignorance and prejudices. I have never once failed a payment to a landlord and I can go back years with a rental history which will clearly show I have never once damaged a property!
Until I was made redundant through circumstances many people could not even begin to understand, I was living in a secure and extremely modern apartment. It was through trusting a "friend" who I was meant to be moving in with, that I gave up the tenancy and ended up without a place of my own due to my "friend" getting cold feet about me moving in. This caused yet again by comments made by members of her family and other prejudiced friends of hers. Thankfully, someone who I have only met once before through a photography forum offered me somewhere to stay until I can get myself sorted, but this is only a very temporary thing as I am occupying what is in effect her office floor in her two bedroomed house.
But I guess I won't expect an answer from you Smithy which might be helpful, as I am probably not worthy of your £100,000 house lifestyle! Instead, I will just continue to look for an answer elsewhere and in the mean time try and see if I can can complete my property law course from the gutter, where it appears some people think I belong!
Apologies to anyone on here who finds this posting quite negative! I guess too many years of dealing with prejudiced people in many areas of my life and being pushed to the point of almost killing myself is not enough to warrent being worthy of having a roof over my head!
What is it that makes you believe that a private tenant will not cause you any problems?
My main question was, as a landlord do you see all DSS tenants as scum who will damage your property and refuse to pay you rent? I am not currently interested in the price of your property or if it is a valuable asset, as this isn't the issue I was trying to raise.
My original post was also asking the question about people in extreme circumstances like myself...and I was in someways trying to get a response which would help me find a way around the situation I am in.
I am in no way the scum you appear to think a DSS person is. I am just someone who is in a bad situation through societies ignorance and prejudices. I have never once failed a payment to a landlord and I can go back years with a rental history which will clearly show I have never once damaged a property!
Until I was made redundant through circumstances many people could not even begin to understand, I was living in a secure and extremely modern apartment. It was through trusting a "friend" who I was meant to be moving in with, that I gave up the tenancy and ended up without a place of my own due to my "friend" getting cold feet about me moving in. This caused yet again by comments made by members of her family and other prejudiced friends of hers. Thankfully, someone who I have only met once before through a photography forum offered me somewhere to stay until I can get myself sorted, but this is only a very temporary thing as I am occupying what is in effect her office floor in her two bedroomed house.
But I guess I won't expect an answer from you Smithy which might be helpful, as I am probably not worthy of your £100,000 house lifestyle! Instead, I will just continue to look for an answer elsewhere and in the mean time try and see if I can can complete my property law course from the gutter, where it appears some people think I belong!
Apologies to anyone on here who finds this posting quite negative! I guess too many years of dealing with prejudiced people in many areas of my life and being pushed to the point of almost killing myself is not enough to warrent being worthy of having a roof over my head!
19
Nikki2010-04-22 22:03:01
OK...sod it, I am off to sleep...my head is spinning and I am not thinking straight...too much studying and pressure on me at the moment. If anyone wants to argue, it can wait till tomorrow when I have had a good nights sleep, as I think I am now writing with my emotions and not my mind and I hate to think of what I might say if I let my emotions take over!
20
Smithy2010-04-22 22:28:29
Nikki said: "My main question was, as a landlord do you see all DSS tenants as scum who will damage your property and refuse to pay you rent?" "I am in no way the scum you appear to think a DSS person is."
I think your argument is with someone else because those are not comments I have made nor would I make.
I think your argument is with someone else because those are not comments I have made nor would I make.
21
Nikki2010-04-22 23:25:35
Like I said, my last post was written with a poor frame of mind and I let my emotions get to me... it happens from time to time and when the only response you get back is something which only serves to show your own self interests, rather than address the issues I raised in a manner which would promote a sensible discussion, then please accept my apology if I misunderstood your response as anything other than self serving!
I am only human and I make mistakes... maybe I totally mis-interpreted your statement...
"The bottom line is that I am allowing complete strangers to have full use of my property which is worth over £100,000."
Add to this your failure to see that my statement about stamps was nothing more than an attempt to show the ludicrous way people discriminate against others!
In the context of the previous part of the discussion I was having with Sam, this certainly appeared to be very dismissing and showed that your only concern was for yourself and not the situation I was attempting to solve. Nor was it effectively entering into the discussion in a way in which it offered anything other than your own personal needs... which also did nothing to dispel my theory that many landlords see DSS tenants as being untrustworthy! Hence the reason I guess why justenquiring asked you the question about your opinion about whether or not you thought DSS tenants were more likely to trash your property than someone working?
Two times asked and yet no answer other than one which is self serving to your own needs!
For the record, I will retract the statement where I said "I am in no way the scum you appear to think a DSS person is.", as if I had been thinking more clearly it would have read "I am in no way the scum that some landlords think a DSS person is!"
But my original question still stands awaiting an answer!
My only purpose behind any of this is to try and figure out if there is any ways of solving both my own personal issues (Which I admit to and do not skirt around the issue) and also trying to understand the issues of mistrust which are clearly evident on this website which appear to exist between both landlords and tenants! I am not here to slag people off and get into petty arguments, I am here to better understand this whole ridiculous situation from both sides of the fence!
Anyway, this really is time for me to go to sleep! I am totally exhausted and really shouldn't be getting myself worked up over comments on this website!
I am only human and I make mistakes... maybe I totally mis-interpreted your statement...
"The bottom line is that I am allowing complete strangers to have full use of my property which is worth over £100,000."
Add to this your failure to see that my statement about stamps was nothing more than an attempt to show the ludicrous way people discriminate against others!
In the context of the previous part of the discussion I was having with Sam, this certainly appeared to be very dismissing and showed that your only concern was for yourself and not the situation I was attempting to solve. Nor was it effectively entering into the discussion in a way in which it offered anything other than your own personal needs... which also did nothing to dispel my theory that many landlords see DSS tenants as being untrustworthy! Hence the reason I guess why justenquiring asked you the question about your opinion about whether or not you thought DSS tenants were more likely to trash your property than someone working?
Two times asked and yet no answer other than one which is self serving to your own needs!
For the record, I will retract the statement where I said "I am in no way the scum you appear to think a DSS person is.", as if I had been thinking more clearly it would have read "I am in no way the scum that some landlords think a DSS person is!"
But my original question still stands awaiting an answer!
My only purpose behind any of this is to try and figure out if there is any ways of solving both my own personal issues (Which I admit to and do not skirt around the issue) and also trying to understand the issues of mistrust which are clearly evident on this website which appear to exist between both landlords and tenants! I am not here to slag people off and get into petty arguments, I am here to better understand this whole ridiculous situation from both sides of the fence!
Anyway, this really is time for me to go to sleep! I am totally exhausted and really shouldn't be getting myself worked up over comments on this website!
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Jools2010-04-23 07:11:58
Hey Nikki,
you are right - it's not worth getting yourself worked up about - this should be a place to vent frustration not get more frustrated.
The fundamental issue here is, as Smithy said, giving the right to live or use an asset that is worth a lot of money. Now, I know that the whole point of renting a property is actually based on risk - you counter the risk of letting the property against the chance of profit BUT you have to try to stack the odds in your favour.
THE biggest issue with LHA/DSS is the change in the payment system directly to the tenant. This immediately turns the risk based assesment in the favour of the tenant as they hold the cash and as we know possession is 9/10 of the law. IF this system were to be reversed or if the tenant agreed to sign a waiver insturcting the payments to be made directly to the landlord then that would restore the balance. Everything else can then be based on meeting the client and good old fashioned nouse.
Intuition, body language, background checks even profiling (as opposed to stereotyping) are all useful tools in the Landlords amoury. Would I rent to someone driving a Burberry wearing souped up Saxo driving yoot? No. On the otherhand the Jag driving middlemanagement rep could be just as bad a risk given they would be in the firing line come redundancy time and then perhaps fall onto benefits.
There has to be a solution, but it will be a complicated and will involve fundamental change in thinking and not a small amount of trust.
Jools
PS - Good debate.
you are right - it's not worth getting yourself worked up about - this should be a place to vent frustration not get more frustrated.
The fundamental issue here is, as Smithy said, giving the right to live or use an asset that is worth a lot of money. Now, I know that the whole point of renting a property is actually based on risk - you counter the risk of letting the property against the chance of profit BUT you have to try to stack the odds in your favour.
THE biggest issue with LHA/DSS is the change in the payment system directly to the tenant. This immediately turns the risk based assesment in the favour of the tenant as they hold the cash and as we know possession is 9/10 of the law. IF this system were to be reversed or if the tenant agreed to sign a waiver insturcting the payments to be made directly to the landlord then that would restore the balance. Everything else can then be based on meeting the client and good old fashioned nouse.
Intuition, body language, background checks even profiling (as opposed to stereotyping) are all useful tools in the Landlords amoury. Would I rent to someone driving a Burberry wearing souped up Saxo driving yoot? No. On the otherhand the Jag driving middlemanagement rep could be just as bad a risk given they would be in the firing line come redundancy time and then perhaps fall onto benefits.
There has to be a solution, but it will be a complicated and will involve fundamental change in thinking and not a small amount of trust.
Jools
PS - Good debate.
23
Sam2010-04-23 07:14:11
In our position as an agent, we treat every application as an individual case - people are different, come with different histories and that must be respected. (sorry we do not cover Chesterfield). I can only tell you that some of our landlords will accept HB and some won't. What they do with their property investment (and who they want to rent it to) is a personal decision. They, at the end of the day, are liable for that property and have to pay the mortgage and so ultimately they have the final say.
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Nikki2010-04-23 12:29:05
Hi Jools,
A sensible and easy way to ensure payments went directly to the landlords would be a simple clause which stated that payment was done through a standing order at the bank.
This has always been the way I have made my payments in the past and it is also the way that whenever I have signed up for a property, the agents or the landlord have requested in order to ensure payment...in fact many places will not even consider you for renting a place unless you are willing to make payments in this way!
The thing I am failing to comprehend here is, yes the DSS person is now the one who has the money paid directly to them, but if you think about it, this is in no way different to them receiving a wage from an employer and requires the same sort of trust in completing payment as someone who is employed!
After all, the employed person has to rely on the fact that the person they work for has earned enough money to keep the business profitable enough to pay them their wages! And in the current financial climate, is often not the case...hence the reason so many people are being layed off work!
Like you have mentioned, the choice between a Burberry wearing chav in a Saxo and a Jag driving middle management type, could make little difference at the end of the day, if the middle management person loses their job.
I think the real issue here is the prejudiced view which sees many people who are on DSS as the chav type! Which is not the case at all! Lets face it, the Jag driving middle management type who just lost his job, is highly unlikely to suddenly turn up dressed head to toe in burberry, having swapped his jag for a Saxo! This also doesn't mean that he/she has become morally bankrupt since losing the job! So considering the now ex-middle management person is now unemployed and receiving benefits until a new job is found, does this mean that he/she is suddenly dishonest enough to not pay the money they receive from what is probably the more secure source of payment these days..i.e the DSS. At least you know they are definitely going to receive the money!
But then again, I am writing the above statement, in the view that the landlord will only see the money as the main concern, when this is clearly not the case!
As stated by many of the landlord postings on here, if you are a DSS tenant, then you will obviously destroy the property and cause nothing but trouble!
So yet again back to middle management person... does this mean that now unemployment has been forced upon him/her, that he/she is now going to take smashing up property as a hobby?
I very much agree with you Jools about the use of background checks and even profiling, as I admit, I would most likely do the same if I was renting out a property...it is human nature to check things out! But the truth is, profiling checks can be a complete waste of time, if the person being profiled is being judged purely on appearance alone.
To put this in perspective, in my last job, I worked in an office which employed a lot of people. Out of all of these people, the one person who was caught commiting a crime, was the the building manager...he was done for assaulting a woman. He looks the respectable type...smartly dressed, well educated and drove a big car, but had the morals of a scumbag.
The disgusting thing is, he is still employed in that position of responsibility, as the powers that be do not want to remove him from the post. This just goes to show that people can not be judged on appearance or morality just because of their job!
You are definitely correct when you say there has to be a solution and will involve fundamental change in thinking and not just a small amount of trust.
The solution will be difficult, but it certainly doesn't mean it is impossible to solve.
The thinking of a great many people needs to be altered if there is ever going to be change and unless people actually work together to come up with a solution, then all that is ever going to happen is a continuation of the culture of discrimination and prejudices, which is serving only to make a bad situation even worse!
Out of curiosity, just how many landlords are on this website? I am asking, because surely if there are a lot on here, then it would give an idea of the scale of just how big an impact could be made if something serious was done to come up with a solution.
A sensible and easy way to ensure payments went directly to the landlords would be a simple clause which stated that payment was done through a standing order at the bank.
This has always been the way I have made my payments in the past and it is also the way that whenever I have signed up for a property, the agents or the landlord have requested in order to ensure payment...in fact many places will not even consider you for renting a place unless you are willing to make payments in this way!
The thing I am failing to comprehend here is, yes the DSS person is now the one who has the money paid directly to them, but if you think about it, this is in no way different to them receiving a wage from an employer and requires the same sort of trust in completing payment as someone who is employed!
After all, the employed person has to rely on the fact that the person they work for has earned enough money to keep the business profitable enough to pay them their wages! And in the current financial climate, is often not the case...hence the reason so many people are being layed off work!
Like you have mentioned, the choice between a Burberry wearing chav in a Saxo and a Jag driving middle management type, could make little difference at the end of the day, if the middle management person loses their job.
I think the real issue here is the prejudiced view which sees many people who are on DSS as the chav type! Which is not the case at all! Lets face it, the Jag driving middle management type who just lost his job, is highly unlikely to suddenly turn up dressed head to toe in burberry, having swapped his jag for a Saxo! This also doesn't mean that he/she has become morally bankrupt since losing the job! So considering the now ex-middle management person is now unemployed and receiving benefits until a new job is found, does this mean that he/she is suddenly dishonest enough to not pay the money they receive from what is probably the more secure source of payment these days..i.e the DSS. At least you know they are definitely going to receive the money!
But then again, I am writing the above statement, in the view that the landlord will only see the money as the main concern, when this is clearly not the case!
As stated by many of the landlord postings on here, if you are a DSS tenant, then you will obviously destroy the property and cause nothing but trouble!
So yet again back to middle management person... does this mean that now unemployment has been forced upon him/her, that he/she is now going to take smashing up property as a hobby?
I very much agree with you Jools about the use of background checks and even profiling, as I admit, I would most likely do the same if I was renting out a property...it is human nature to check things out! But the truth is, profiling checks can be a complete waste of time, if the person being profiled is being judged purely on appearance alone.
To put this in perspective, in my last job, I worked in an office which employed a lot of people. Out of all of these people, the one person who was caught commiting a crime, was the the building manager...he was done for assaulting a woman. He looks the respectable type...smartly dressed, well educated and drove a big car, but had the morals of a scumbag.
The disgusting thing is, he is still employed in that position of responsibility, as the powers that be do not want to remove him from the post. This just goes to show that people can not be judged on appearance or morality just because of their job!
You are definitely correct when you say there has to be a solution and will involve fundamental change in thinking and not just a small amount of trust.
The solution will be difficult, but it certainly doesn't mean it is impossible to solve.
The thinking of a great many people needs to be altered if there is ever going to be change and unless people actually work together to come up with a solution, then all that is ever going to happen is a continuation of the culture of discrimination and prejudices, which is serving only to make a bad situation even worse!
Out of curiosity, just how many landlords are on this website? I am asking, because surely if there are a lot on here, then it would give an idea of the scale of just how big an impact could be made if something serious was done to come up with a solution.
25
Jools2010-04-23 16:24:44
Hey Nikki,
I completely agree with you and your sentiments. Unfortunately, I dont have any properties in the Chesterfield area either. North west and Cardiff I'm afraid so unless you want to move!!
OK - you have made me think and I really should walk the walk! I will instruct my agents to consider DSS/LHA claimants on a case by case basis. Well done Nikki - you have changed one person at least with your argument. I can't believe that an eloquent person like you is currently unemployed - I hope things pick up for you really soon. Which industry are/were you in?
Lets have a think about a strategy for trying to change hearts and minds.
Have a great weekend!
Jools
I completely agree with you and your sentiments. Unfortunately, I dont have any properties in the Chesterfield area either. North west and Cardiff I'm afraid so unless you want to move!!
OK - you have made me think and I really should walk the walk! I will instruct my agents to consider DSS/LHA claimants on a case by case basis. Well done Nikki - you have changed one person at least with your argument. I can't believe that an eloquent person like you is currently unemployed - I hope things pick up for you really soon. Which industry are/were you in?
Lets have a think about a strategy for trying to change hearts and minds.
Have a great weekend!
Jools
26
Nikki2010-04-23 17:43:31
Hi Jools
Thank you for responding in such a positive way to my posts on here. I just hope you get a positive result if you take on a DSS tenant! Out of curiosity, where in the North West are your properties, as I have been giving serious consideration of trying to find somewhere in the Manchester area, as I feel it will give me a lot more options for employment than the Chesterfield area.
To answer the question about the industry I was in,
I originally studied law at university, but I ended up in a completely different field of work as I found that my heart really was not into the field of work I had worked so hard to get into. Since making the decision not to follow a direct career in the field of law, I worked for a large company based in Leeds for almost 14 years in their public relations department. I was very happy there and would most likely have still been there, had it not been for the severe bullying and harassment I received after revealing my true feelings regarding my gender identity.
I have always believed that if you keep a calm head and clear mind that many prejudices can be overcome, but on this occasion, the culture within the company I worked for did not think in such a way, which if you consider the nature of the business I was in, is quite ironic... they spend all day working on a good image for the company, only to hide behind a false image for themselves and set out to mentally destroy a member of staff and ruin a life due to their own prejudices! So much for equal opportunities and anti discrimination laws!
With good rights, I could have set out to take the company to court for failing to act on their own policies regarding equal opportunities and discrimination, but in all honesty, I am trying to show to the world that I am a normal person. Had I taken the company to court, my personal issue regarding my gender identity would possibly have become public knowledge and my right to privacy, or any chance of a normal life would have been quickly eroded.
As it is, I am a transgendered woman who is seeking employment and that is hard enough in a society which is only just recently beginning to accept the possibility that people such as my self has a right to live a life and not be discriminated against.
My theory about not taking the company to court for their failure to act, was also partially based on the fact that should I have done so and won the case, then the chances of me ever being employed again, would be slimmer than ever, as what employer would want someone on their staff, who poses a risk to them if they do not live up to their responsibilities of protecting its employees!
I think a positive strategy towards changing hearts and minds is a wonderful idea and I would be more than happy to participate in anything which would help people who are struggling to find accommodation, ensure they get a roof over their head.
There are many ways to ensure this could be achieved, including ways of ensuring rent is payed and also the protection of property, but first of all, the changing of hearts and minds is a big step in the right direction.
I am going to consider for a while, what would be the best strategy to tackle this issue and hopefully I might come up with an idea. It would be wonderful if people like yourself, would be interested in helping to make a difference and dispel many of the myths that DSS equals Chav scum!
Nikki
Thank you for responding in such a positive way to my posts on here. I just hope you get a positive result if you take on a DSS tenant! Out of curiosity, where in the North West are your properties, as I have been giving serious consideration of trying to find somewhere in the Manchester area, as I feel it will give me a lot more options for employment than the Chesterfield area.
To answer the question about the industry I was in,
I originally studied law at university, but I ended up in a completely different field of work as I found that my heart really was not into the field of work I had worked so hard to get into. Since making the decision not to follow a direct career in the field of law, I worked for a large company based in Leeds for almost 14 years in their public relations department. I was very happy there and would most likely have still been there, had it not been for the severe bullying and harassment I received after revealing my true feelings regarding my gender identity.
I have always believed that if you keep a calm head and clear mind that many prejudices can be overcome, but on this occasion, the culture within the company I worked for did not think in such a way, which if you consider the nature of the business I was in, is quite ironic... they spend all day working on a good image for the company, only to hide behind a false image for themselves and set out to mentally destroy a member of staff and ruin a life due to their own prejudices! So much for equal opportunities and anti discrimination laws!
With good rights, I could have set out to take the company to court for failing to act on their own policies regarding equal opportunities and discrimination, but in all honesty, I am trying to show to the world that I am a normal person. Had I taken the company to court, my personal issue regarding my gender identity would possibly have become public knowledge and my right to privacy, or any chance of a normal life would have been quickly eroded.
As it is, I am a transgendered woman who is seeking employment and that is hard enough in a society which is only just recently beginning to accept the possibility that people such as my self has a right to live a life and not be discriminated against.
My theory about not taking the company to court for their failure to act, was also partially based on the fact that should I have done so and won the case, then the chances of me ever being employed again, would be slimmer than ever, as what employer would want someone on their staff, who poses a risk to them if they do not live up to their responsibilities of protecting its employees!
I think a positive strategy towards changing hearts and minds is a wonderful idea and I would be more than happy to participate in anything which would help people who are struggling to find accommodation, ensure they get a roof over their head.
There are many ways to ensure this could be achieved, including ways of ensuring rent is payed and also the protection of property, but first of all, the changing of hearts and minds is a big step in the right direction.
I am going to consider for a while, what would be the best strategy to tackle this issue and hopefully I might come up with an idea. It would be wonderful if people like yourself, would be interested in helping to make a difference and dispel many of the myths that DSS equals Chav scum!
Nikki
27
Jools2010-04-24 15:18:02
Hey Nikki,
what a brave soul you are - hope it all works out ok for you. My properties are in Rossendale, about 30 miles north of Manchester.
It's true that the work situation in Manchester may be a better bet given it's a more cosmopolitan city. Some really good accomodation - as long as you are in the right areas and a bit more open minded to 'things different'!
Coming from public relations, if anyone can suss this out then you must be the one!
Cheers
Jools
what a brave soul you are - hope it all works out ok for you. My properties are in Rossendale, about 30 miles north of Manchester.
It's true that the work situation in Manchester may be a better bet given it's a more cosmopolitan city. Some really good accomodation - as long as you are in the right areas and a bit more open minded to 'things different'!
Coming from public relations, if anyone can suss this out then you must be the one!
Cheers
Jools
28
Keri2010-05-30 13:08:07
Hi in reading this and the comments about DSS vs working people... I feel I should say that an increasing amount of people on DSS are people who have found themselves out of a job or in my case even a home because of the credit crunch and not by choice I personally fought tooth and nail NOT to have to go on DSS because I was afraid I would be lumped in with the chav's stereotype. I am unfortunately finding myself lumped in with them and I am far from that! I have been working in some capacity or another since I was 13 at 31 I am finding myself out of work for the first time ever. And sadly due to my landlord in belfast selling the house with only 2 weeks warning, I have also found myself homeless as i am bouncing from friends house to friends house. I desperately want to find a place in London that will accept DSS and a reasonable deposit. But am not finding such a place!
please contact me if you know of anyone willing to take a chance on me and help me get into a place of my own again... my email is keridanielle78@yahoo.co.uk
please contact me if you know of anyone willing to take a chance on me and help me get into a place of my own again... my email is keridanielle78@yahoo.co.uk
29
Sam2010-05-31 06:41:40
Keri I wish you luck in finding suitable accomodation. You can also place your wanted ad for free on www.VirtualLetz.com where private landlords can contact you direct.
30
Keri2010-05-31 11:17:30
Thanks Sam I have done that and now hopefully something positive will happen... I should say the only reason my landlady/friend sold the house was because she wanted to move in with her boyfriend(fairplay they've been together for ages) and they both needed to sell their houses in order to pay for the new one.. nothing to do with what kind of tenant I am just what kind of friend she is as there was no deposit or agreement of notice period I feel I got the short end of the stick. Is there such a thing as a common notice period for landlords when selling their property that is still being lived in? just for future knowledge so I can protect myself from this nightmare again.. I hate staying with family and friends because its an awkward situation if that makes sense.
31
Sam2010-05-31 17:13:27
Keri - minimum 2 months. even if you don't have a written ast you will have rights which are formed by you paying rent and living in the property. as a friend this is pretty poor...as a landlord this is illegal...
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Keri2010-05-31 19:40:52
Thanks Sam yeah its affected the friendship a bit but won't do anything legal grounds with her because I don't think she even knows the notice period ect... anyway update: i've found a private landlord that is willing to take dss and only wants 4 weeks deposit and is willing to work with me with the process of claiming. boyfriend is going to look at the property tomorrow to make sure its all above board,even though he's not going to be living there with me what a fella! lol... so fingers crossed my luck has finally changed.
33
Donna Mckenzie2010-07-01 10:35:47
after reading a few of your articles (i came on looking for advice as im looking for a place to live) I myself am unemployed due to job loss and i feel im being shot down due to my circumstances. im a single parent and currently rent a council property due to major problems with neighbours im forced to stay at my mums with my son and the council have told me that my best option is to go for a private rent flat or house yet all i see is NO DSS... i realize that there are private tennants who are unemployed and do mess about but there are some of us out there who wish to live a safe and happy life which is all im asking for myself and my son, im willing to come to some kind of agreement over the deposit and im an honest, hard working (when im employed) law abiding citizen, i take care of my son and have no desire to party it up and cause nusance so why am i getting penalised???
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sandy2010-10-02 13:31:35
All I can say is that discrimination becomes stronger the more we are separated from each other by all the methods that are used by those who benefit from it;ie the owners of private property, and the media that perpetuate these divisions.
It can easily be seen that when we actually get together and break down those divisions we find oue common link, which is our humanity.Witness the discussion above which has brought together two previosly opposed people.
It can easily be seen that when we actually get together and break down those divisions we find oue common link, which is our humanity.Witness the discussion above which has brought together two previosly opposed people.
35
Liz2010-12-18 21:12:31
I have glued to this website all afternoon - it's terrific! I've learned a lot and been greatly entertained by the website owner's wit and humour (you should have been a comedian!)
Having just read the whole of the Nikki v. Landlord debate above, I would just like to say to Nikki, you're amazing. Well done you for facing so much in your own life yet still so able and willing to try to make a difference for the GOOD in everyone's.
I hope one day you come back to read this, Nikki, I wish you all the very best.
Having just read the whole of the Nikki v. Landlord debate above, I would just like to say to Nikki, you're amazing. Well done you for facing so much in your own life yet still so able and willing to try to make a difference for the GOOD in everyone's.
I hope one day you come back to read this, Nikki, I wish you all the very best.
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Fightingabrickwall2011-03-14 11:15:48
I have a good history with my current landlord in fact they keep asking me to call so they can give me money back, I have money for extra deposit, I have someone willing to be guarantor but they do not earn enough as they have only gone back to work part time after having a child. There are a home-owner and have a good credit history but this is not enough. I have suggested Rent Guarantee Insurance which I am willing to pay.
Any suggestions?????
Any suggestions?????
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Nicola2011-03-27 15:14:37
I've moved a few times over the years and have always been in full time permanent employment - but after not being well for a while and only just being well enough to start looking for a job again (in this ridiculously competitive market we're in now) I find myself being a 'DSS tenant'! (Why is it even still called that when there is no such thing as DSS anymore, praps changing the name might help erase the prejudice a little!?). My Landlord is now selling the flat I'm renting after I've lived here two years, I became unemployed during my time here, and nearly had to move six months ago but he let me stay when my mum stepped up kindly as my gaurantor (I might add, she doesn't have a job either as she's retired - so now I keep reading that a gaurantor has to have a 'well paid job' I might not even get through on that!?). There's been no problems with him receiving my rent on time in full every month...
... yet here I am facing homelessness coz everywhere I turn I'm told 'no DSS tenants' and often spoken down to like a piece of garbage!! I can't believe this kind of discrimination is allowed, especially in the middle of this huge recession!??
... yet here I am facing homelessness coz everywhere I turn I'm told 'no DSS tenants' and often spoken down to like a piece of garbage!! I can't believe this kind of discrimination is allowed, especially in the middle of this huge recession!??
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lisa2011-07-30 21:45:36
Landlords have a major problem with dss tenants yet i have been a dss tenant for 10yrs unemployed due to raising 4 children on my own (just thought i would mention that in case any one reading this thinks i am lazy dole dosser)but my last 2 propertys have been appalling and not been fit to raise pigs in let alone four children whos fault ? not mine landlords!! most of the repairs the landlord should of dealt with boiler toilet breaking etc i get fed up with asking them to get them done so i pay and sort it myself and pay extra rent because hb dnt pay full rent . understand that landlords do need security but not all dss tenants are looking to go digging fish ponds in the middle of a lounge true my parents rented a property last tenants dug a hole in the lounge to put in a fish pond mental!!
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Jasmine Maddock2011-10-02 13:15:48
The seemingly fruitless search for DHS ok properties furnished off a main road and decent seems like the proverbial holy grail. I sympathise with Professional DHS in their frustration and scorned by agents in the search for property. I am a graduate, a surrealist visual artist with ten years experience exhibiting work and used to work as a journalist and model plus am tidy a non smoker and quiet, but desperately need to find accommodation of a decent standard as I am being subjected to physical and mental abuse from my partner - I escaped my mother in similar circumstances and there was a massive court case involving this and now am in the same situation. I have been to the council housing department and was interviewed and now have to wait but I don't want to end up on a bleak housing estate with loud dance music from the shellsuits next door as my only company. I have a bond scheme and deposit which seems to make no difference. I am isolated have anxiety and no sleep and feel in total dismal apathy. If I got away from the man I made a dire mistake in moving down to London for I could feel normal again. I am only on benefits because of my mental health and abuse from my mother and now partner and also TMJ joint problem. I am certainly not some chav sucking the state dry of funds to feed my hairspray and burberry check habit. And I have to stay in Barnet because of the bond scheme. Come on landlords give professional DHS clients some dignity and let them be housed.
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Out in the Sticks2011-10-04 02:18:12
I relocated to rural Scotland with my now ex-partner some years ago. I'm 57 and have always worked in reasonably well-paid jobs but because of poor rural public transport, the aftermath of the relationship breakup has left me working full-time for a well-known supermarket and bringing home a wage which is low enough for me to claim working tax credits. The flat which I rent is privately owned and the landlady was happy to accept bank statements and references from my place of work as I knew no-one well enough to approach them to be a guarantor. She has just offered me my third lease renewal. However, since I am isolated here, I want to move to a town with better public transport links and have asked for a transfer to another store which can only offer part-time hours. I have raised enough for a deposit, a month's rent in advance, removal costs etc and have looked carefully at the financial viability of working part-time whilst looking for other employment or awaiting extra hours at the new store - I could manage BUT I am trapped here. All of the letting agencies would require a guarantor. I live between work and my current flat because I can't get anywhere. Had I allowed myself to become homeless when I separated from my partner, I would have been eligible for a council flat and would have been able to advertise for a transfer or have my homeless status transferred to another council. Instead, I made the mistake of moving into the private sector. The council deems me adequately housed so I have no housing points. No other private landlord will take me if I go into part-time employment and so I'll probably roll into old age stuck in the middle of nowhere with no social life and no access to any place other than the very small town where I am located. I am at my wit's end - I've run out of ideas and options.
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liam2011-11-11 12:28:12
Im 19 and looking for a place on benefits,ive tried to find work and am constantly still trying just no where is taking anyone on,i think it is unfair that most dss tenants are looking down upon because some lazy and idiotic chav's take advantage of dss,treat property like rubbish,and are loud and messy,im not like that at all,im respectful,and quiet,not a big partier,and just want my own space but as soon as you say dss,there reply with no,it's so unfair!
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Sadrachel2011-11-30 14:54:39
I am a disabled (M.S)49 year old with a masters degree, not currently on HB due to owning my own house.
I am having to sell my house and move out of my area(from north east england to london)for health reasons, but i can't go on the new area's local housing list as i do not already live there...
Due to not living in the area and having to file a new claim i can't just find a DSS flat and move directly from my house to new DSS flat as i'm at the other end of the country
So i will have to try and find a private DSS landlord while staying in a caravan with my daughter (who is also my carer).
I do not look forward to this in the slightest.
I am having to sell my house and move out of my area(from north east england to london)for health reasons, but i can't go on the new area's local housing list as i do not already live there...
Due to not living in the area and having to file a new claim i can't just find a DSS flat and move directly from my house to new DSS flat as i'm at the other end of the country
So i will have to try and find a private DSS landlord while staying in a caravan with my daughter (who is also my carer).
I do not look forward to this in the slightest.
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Sadrachel2011-11-30 14:59:30
So i am having to making my self intentionally homeless, but there is nothing i can do about this.
The support and facilities i need are in london so i need to move there,
(selling house leaves me £8000 profit)
I hope i can find a DSS friendly landlord quickly or i'll be living in a caravan during winter/spring.
The support and facilities i need are in london so i need to move there,
(selling house leaves me £8000 profit)
I hope i can find a DSS friendly landlord quickly or i'll be living in a caravan during winter/spring.
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Kate2012-01-12 23:52:52
Well with the unemployment rate still steadily rising and the employed pool of renters gradually getting smaller; landlords are soon going to have to face the choice of either leaving their properties empty or start considering renting to DSS tenants. I fear they will choose the former.
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