Estate agents discrimination

@bea1980 I can relate to a degree as looked after my lovely mum for 8 yrs although had a mortgage/now in LA housing association bungalow cos of poor health but did struggle to rent years ago, that was because of dogs. A few little thoughts come to mind. Do you have proof/screen shots of your eligibility for housing benefit (and I'm assuming you're looking at 1 bedroom suitable properties that HB will support ongoing). Your PIP Award To dates - are they a few years away, could you provide evidence of this to demonstrate affordability. I offered a bigger deposit years ago 'cos of dogs, I don't think this is allowed nowadays. Depending which area you're in, is there other options to where rentals are advertised (Gumtree etc). Would it be easy/straightforward for you to go to the estate agents, in person, with your requirements/evidence of affordability etc. Sorry, you might have done all this. There might be some estate agents who are more sympathetic others on here might know of everyone's very helpful. I appreciate it's over 9 years ago, but would you be able to get tenancy references from the past that could help or character references - the latter can be really useful especially when if not been in paid employment (I appreciate I'm making maybe a wrong assumption there so many apologies if I am). I really wish you good luck. You will get there but it's wrong that such discrimination exists still. You should be able to feel the excitement that comes from rebuilding your life for you, you deserve to as you've given so much of yourself for so long and I wish you very good luck too. Take good care x

It’s been the same for many years. Even those that work find it very difficult to privately rent due to affordability.

Sometimes there are some landlords that will accept you if you have a guarantor.

You can fill out a form to add your name to the list for social/council housing but again the wait could be many years.

I’ve had exactly the same problem , email them and when they find out youre on benefits no reply at all, it’s a form of discrimination, the ones that do offer properties to claimants are usually exceptionally greedy landlords that have bought properties and turn them into as many studios as possible , basically a room with a sink/kitchenette in a corner and a tiny separate shower / toilet and charge the maximum , in London that’s over £1400 pm starting rent, they know the discrimination we face so the offer the least they can for the most money they can get .

Most of us on benefits are good respectful people , despite what the news outlets would have you believe . I’ve also been on the council register for years but cant bid because I’m in the lowest band , I’m trying to challenge that atm but I absolutely know they’ll say I have no priority at all .

Good luck trying to find somewhere , openrent does have a filter where you can select only properties where the landlord accepts benefit claimants, when you toggle this on there’s hardly any properties left though .

this is exactly how I feel

They see us as desperate and pitiful and close a door that’s barely open . Have you tried to have your banding reassessed with council to see if you can move up the list ? I’m trying at the moment and it’s so disheartening coz I know at the end they’ll reject it but I have to try something