Private renting on benefits and bad credit rating

Danlangridge88
Danlangridge88 Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 66 Contributor
in Housing and independent living
So I'm having problems with my current landlord who I live with as I'm  a lodger. He's sexually harassing me, constantly asking to borrow money to cover bills, he helps himself to my food, my Toiletries etc and even let's himself in my room and goes through my belongings and had even STOLEN money out of my room. I suffer from mental health issues which I'm trying so hard to sort it right now and I can't handle having to deal with this now on top of everything else.
Housing charities are useless and unhelpful and just tell me to get help from the council. The council who eventually gave me an assessment basically said as I'm not homeless there's nothing they can do and their advice was join the housing register  (which I did 8years ago and regardless of my health and current situation I'm still in the lowest band) or tell me tl look to rent Privately. I've also tried this option and I get as far as the credit checks and then because of my bad credit rating, Landlords won't go near me as they see me as a liability. I even have a guarantor but his income is too low! 

Does anyone know who I can turn to for help in this situation or even better know where I can find direct landlords in London who would accept DSS income from someone will doesn't have a goof credit history?

Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,750 Online Community Programme Lead
    Wow. I'm really sorry to read this, @Danlangridge88. It sounds like you're in a really rough situation and I think we'd all feel pretty overwhelmed if we were being subjected to harassment, invasion of privacy and even theft in the place where we lived. 

    Have you contacted Citizens Advice at all? They should be able to provide you with valuable guidance on your rights and available options.

    It's also important to remember that even though you feel like your housing situation is probably quite precarious, theft and harassment are serious issues. You shouldn't have to tolerate them or ignore them. Please consider reporting these incidents to the local police. 

    I know you've had a bad time with housing charities, but Shelter should at least be able to help you understand your rights as a lodger and offer guidance on dealing with difficult landlord situations.

    You could also try engaging with your local council again. I understand your past experiences with them have been frustrating, but it's really worth explaining your situation again. You could try emphasising the harassment and the theft and try to explore any available resources or emergency housing options.

    Local domestic abuse support services or national organisations like Respect will be able to make suggestions and highlight your options, even if the harassment doesn't involve physical harm, they are well-situated to provide guidance to people in similar situations.

    When it comes to searching for a new place, focus on property listings that explicitly state their acceptance of tenants on Housing Benefit (DSS). In my experience, you're more likely to have luck with these on websites like Zoopla and Gumtree.
  • Danlangridge88
    Danlangridge88 Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 66 Contributor
    Hi. Thanks for the response. So the council have decided to help me financially. And act as a guarantor as well as pay a potential landlord an incentive.
    Now it's just trying to find a landlord/agent, tell them my life story and ask of the landlord will accept me with the councils incentive, which is stressful. Ideally I would've liked some help finding landlords who'd accept someone like me in my situation 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    Sometimes a local Authority will have a list of landlords that will accept DSS tenants, although the list may not be updated so please be aware of that. 

    Also try gumtree for your area because sometimes landlords advertise on there if they accept DSS tenants. Please be careful of the scammers though. 
  • Danlangridge88
    Danlangridge88 Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 66 Contributor
    I've checked gumtree. Dssmove and every other dss link I've been given. There's nothing available at all
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    It’s not going to be easy even with help for the deposit from your local Authority. Most landlord’s just won’t accept DSS tenants. All you can do is to keep looking. 
  • Jimm_Alumni
    Jimm_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,717 Championing
    Shelter are a charity that specialise in housing. They have a section on just this issue, considering how prevalent it is. Despite it being a few years on from a major court case that ruled it breaking Equality Law (for agents only).

    How to find landlords who accept benefits - Shelter England

    I hope this page can help you find a home, please keep us updated with how you're doing
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    Jimm_Scope said:
    Shelter are a charity that specialise in housing. They have a section on just this issue, considering how prevalent it is. Despite it being a few years on from a major court case that ruled it breaking Equality Law (for agents only).

    How to find landlords who accept benefits - Shelter England

    I hope this page can help you find a home, please keep us updated with how you're doing
    Although they are not supposed to refuse DSS tenants they do and it happens all the time. As the years go on the issue just gets worse and worse. 
  • Jimm_Alumni
    Jimm_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,717 Championing
    poppy123456 said:

    Although they are not supposed to refuse DSS tenants they do and it happens all the time. As the years go on the issue just gets worse and worse. 
    Indeed, it's so prevalent despite the court case. Unfortunately there seems to be no enforcement unless someone personally brings charges, which costs. Not something you can reasonably do on DSS.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    Jimm_Scope said:
    poppy123456 said:

    Although they are not supposed to refuse DSS tenants they do and it happens all the time. As the years go on the issue just gets worse and worse. 
    Indeed, it's so prevalent despite the court case. Unfortunately there seems to be no enforcement unless someone personally brings charges, which costs. Not something you can reasonably do on DSS.

    Agreed. The problem is they are very crafty, mostly they don't advertise "no DSS" they find other ways of refusing us. It took me a very long time to find the house i currently live in and even then it was a case of "take it" or continue living where i was, even if it wasn't the most ideal house for my needs.
  • Danlangridge88
    Danlangridge88 Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 66 Contributor
    I know. It wasn't financial help I needed from the council tbh. It was help finding someone who accepts me in my situation. Bit hopefully with their incentive they're offering, may help persuade a landlord to take me on.
    And yeah it's ridiculous, some landlords want 6 months rent in advance because they think you won't be able to afford the rent, then how do thy expect you  to be able to afford 6 months  in advance! And ny guarantor needs to be onike 50k +. No wonder there's so much homelessness going on!

    Anyway so a housing charity gave me an email for an agents called freshview estates who regularly email you with DSS accepting properties available, and I have a viewing today so wish me luck!

    Thanks for the support guys !!

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