DSS Ban On All Agents & Landlords ???

pianoworldstage100

Hi

In light of the new law as of July 2020 stating all letting agents and private landlords can no longer refuse DSS claimants receiving housing benefit, as blanket bans on claimants are illegal and strictly forbidden, on the grounds discrimination.

Therfore if a claimant is already receiving Housing Benefit and Universal Credit, and decides to move to a new property advertising a flat for rent, assuming the claimants housing benefit allowance is eligible to cover the cost of the rent, is it therefore correct to say there can be no refusal?  

poppy123456

HI,

This isn't new. It's been quite some time that landlords can no longer refuse DDS tenants but it hasn't stopped them from continuing to refuse us.

OverlyAnxious

Landlords have the right to refuse anyone, they own the property afterall.

The new law just means they can't specifically use DSS as an excuse any more and can't advertise that either.

Adrian_Scope

Hi @pianoworldstage100. Sadly it doesn't work like that in practice as they can still refuse for other reasons such as affordability, credit rating and referencing. Some of the letting agents around me require annual income to be 3x the rent. Plus in most areas private rental costs are quite a lot higher than the maximum LHA a council will pay through Housing Benefit/Universal Credit housing element making them in-affordable to many in receipt of benefits.

poppy123456

It also depends on the mortgage lender because some of them will refuse a benefit tenant.

pianoworldstage100

Thanks for the feedback.