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TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

Landlords told they should take more benefit claimant tenants

A lettings agency is telling landlords to take more tenants claiming housing benefits.

The agency in question says it’s wrong that some landlords apparently still refuse to take claimants despite a ruling in July last year banning discrimination against tenants with ‘no DSS’ or similar adverts and requests.

“It’s shocking to still see landlords refusing to house tenants on benefits, several months after the new ruling. For years, so-called no-DSS policies have stopped hundreds of thousands of people from renting homes because they receive housing benefit” says Mish Liyanage of Greater Manchester agency Pick My Pad.

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He cites unsourced figures suggesting that 63 per cent of private landlords say they don’t let’, or prefer not to let, to people who receive housing benefit. 

“In many inner-city areas higher than market rents can be achieved letting to tenants on benefits. These increased Local Housing Allowance rates mean much higher yields and a healthy cashflow. For example, monthly rental for LHA tenants is Salford is 35 per cent more than the average private tenant rents” he claims.

The July 2020 ruling declared for the first time that ‘rejecting tenancy applications because the applicant is in receipt of housing benefit was unlawfully indirectly discriminatory on the grounds of sex and disability, contrary to […] the Equality Act 2010’.  

 

Landlords who have a blanket policy of refusing all tenants who claim benefits risk legal action.

“Tenants on receipt of benefits tend to stay much longer than professional tenants, which means less voids and increased cashflow. Direct payment can be obtained in a large number of tenancies, therefore reducing the risk of arrears” adds Liyanage.

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  • George Dawes

    No way jose

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    We chose the tenant and we don't have to give any reasons for our choice.

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    • 17 March 2021 13:11 PM

    I have missed David Crisp - Anyone know what happened to him?

     
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    Yes George/Andrew not feeling this Showing a bias towards benefit claimants quoting a so called 30% uplift will put you on the path to misery and depression as a landlord. When you factor in ‘change of circumstances’ causing claim to be suspended damage from jealous ex boyfriends, calling agent or landlord to fix things that have mysteriously broken and it is NEVER their fault, meters always switched to token after they have left with trash and unwanted items for us to pay to discard. The entitlement of this sector of the market and how they speak to the agent/landlord is breathtaking. I had to learn the hard way and when I made a change of policy life really improved. I was able to afford more upgrades to properties as well as make more money.

    The agents are not sharing the risk and this particular one seems more motivated by the supposed 30% uplift to our cost. Choose your agent/tenant wisely

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    I had a lady tenant a few yrs ago who worked on the phones at a local housing assoc, she told me some stories about their tenants, the way they spoke to her and their demands, leave the '' I'm entitled '' benefit scroungers to councils and housing assocs, we are better off without them.

     
  • James B

    I wonder what an agent is benefiting from campaigning for everyone to accept the highest risk tenants? Is this just publicity for them? We do consider housing benefit applicants if they meet the same affordability criteria as working tenants and can provide a home owner working guarantor for the full duration of their stay, sadly virtually every benefits applicant fails in some regard
    Does unsourced figures mean they are made up? I might just publicise a survey saying 99% of landlords accept housing benefit, unsourced figures!

  • PossessionFriendUK PossessionFriend

    I can see ' Pick My Pad's business going down the pan rapidly as landlords refuse to take their business to a back-stabber.

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    Good to hear someone representing us on LBC this morning - well done PossessionFriendUK.

     
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    The Lettings Agents are now telling Landlords what to do. I thought we used to employ them.

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    same as public sector--our servants now behave as our masters--i blame all pms since bliar

     
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    • 18 March 2021 15:47 PM

    Change Agents - Immediately,

     
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    I use a very good local agent here in Norwich, 1 guy and 4 ladies, trust me you wouldn't argue with the ladies there, they do an excellent job.

     
  •  G romit

    Funny how you don't see 'Pick My Pad' (or any other homeless charity) being prepared to act as guarantor!!

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    My application form asks for a home owning guarantor, sadly benefit tenants never fill in that section. No Guarantor no tenancy. Simples!

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    • 17 March 2021 13:10 PM

    So it should be!!!!!!

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    boycott pick my pad

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    Lets be having a landlords demonstration out side their office.

     
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    Only 63%?!?!

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    id like to know what david crisp view is?

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    • 18 March 2021 00:31 AM

    I doubt he cares!

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    Its amazing the Government moaning about paying Private LL £9 Billion pa, that figure is old and probably more anyway it a huge amount. As previously said by Richard Lambert the then CEO of NLA that the money is not a Subsidy for Private LL's but support for Benefit Tenants, that's clear enough the money is not spent for the LL's but for the Benefit of the Tenant, its not as if they are giving the LL the money for nothing, yet when the LL lets to working Tenants they complain like mad about discrimination, I don't know what gives them the right to think they should have priority.

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