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Landlords could finally be banned from rejecting benefit claimants

Sam_Alumni

Landlords could finally be banned from rejecting benefit claimants, the Government has announced.
In a statement today, the ministry for housing said it will investigate agents and homeowners that automatically block those who qualify for Universal Credit and Housing benefit.
On Friday, housing minister Heather Wheeler announced plans to look at "no DSS" or "no housing benefit" adverts as part of an effort to create a fairer housing market.
She warned that if the sector was unwilling to take action then the Government would "explore all options to remove this practice".

You can read the full story about the government looking to stop landlords discriminating against people who are in receipt of benefits here.

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Comments

exdvr

What does it matter who pays the rent as long as the rent is regularly paid? Why has this discrimination ever been permitted?

twonker

I'm trying to work out how the government will be able to ban these actions. Surely the agents and landlords will come up with say ' the computer model that we use to assess potential tenants states that you do not qualify.' They would argue that the tenant simply being on benefits does not automatically disentitle them. They could even argue that their insurance company would refuse cover if the tenant was on benefits or the mortgage provider had it in their terms and conditions.

twonker

exdvr said:

What does it matter who pays the rent as long as the rent is regularly paid? Why has this discrimination ever been permitted?

It's not as simple as that. For a start there is a 5 week delay in getting UC - should the landlord accept that? Then they have to consider the risks of having a tenant in receipt of benefits - will the landlord be paid on time, in full, every month?
I live in a row of 3 semis which until a few years ago were all owner occupied. Now of those 6 properties only two are owner accoupled, myself and my neighbour. They were bought by a rather dubious and well known landlord and since the date when the first welfare funded tenant moved in the whole area has gone downhill. Anti social behaviour, lack of attention to the gardens front and back, broken fencing together with huge amounts of rubbish and discarded furniture dumped in the front gardens.

poppy123456

Not everyone claiming housing benefit behave in an anti social way. Not all HB claimants disrespect where they live!! The trouble is we are all tarred with the same brush! makes me sick!

MikeyB2102

I'm having the same issues at the moment. Landlord is selling the house that I've lived in for 11 years. I'm on ESA and PIP and I've had so many rejections. I have used Shelters complaint letter templates a few times to challenge it. They either say I need a guarantor who earns over 41k a year (I don't know many people and the ones I do know don't earn that much), the landlord's insurance won't let him rent to people on benefits, or the landlord won't let to people on benefits, or you won't pass the referencing.

As soon as I mention that I receive ESA, PIP, full housing benefit I can hear the contempt in their voice. All I want to do is move to a new place and set up a long term home that I can be proud of. The council have put me in touch with letting agents and they either offer me total slums (they say studio flat, I say double room with a kitchen in it) or they don't reply to my messages. I've got two months to find a place and after a month of trying I just don't have the energy or mental strength to do it anymore

MikeyB2102

woodbine said:

The great shame is that it will be difficult to impose such a rule/law as all the landlords/agents have to say is that the property has already been let, that aside many rental properties rent wise are now beyond many peoples ability to rent cost wise

I know, its ridiculous. I've been quite lucky as my landlord has kept the rent price down for me. I'm moving out of a 3 bedroom house and I'm struggling to find a studio flat for my budget. Thing is, my 12 year old daughter stays with me at the weekends and some of the holidays so ideally I need a one bedroom

MikeyB2102

woodbine said:

The great shame is that it will be difficult to impose such a rule/law as all the landlords/agents have to say is that the property has already been let

One way tp get around that though is to ring them and state you're on benefits, get told its already been let. Then email them and and say you work. If they say they can arrange a viewing then you send them a polite email of complaint and see if they change their stance