Discrimination in the rental sector

Discrimination in the rental sector

8:30 AM, 22nd August 2018, About 6 years ago 78

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David Cox, Chief Executive, ARLA Propertymark comments on the story from Shelter and National Housing Federation about discrimination in the rental sector:

“This is a systemic problem with how housing benefit works. Rents are paid in advance, whereas housing benefit is paid in arrears, and therefore with such a shortage of rental accommodation, landlords and agents will naturally choose a tenant who can pay the rent when it is due, rather than a tenant who is always a month in arrears.

“We have called on Government time and time again to resolve this problem. But our calls have fallen on deaf ears. To make the situation worse, many lenders also have a clause in their buy-to-let mortgage agreements which prevent landlords from letting to housing benefit tenants. This situation does not exist because of landlords or letting agents, it is a systemic problem caused by Government and the banks.”

Click Here to view the campaign by the National Housing Federation and Shelter:

“People receiving benefits are often locked out of the private rented sector and openly discriminated against by private landlords and estate agent adverts, who specify ‘no DSS’ or ‘no housing benefit’.

We’re partnering with Shelter on a new campaign, making the case that private landlords and letting agents shouldn’t be allowed to do this.”

“Many housing associations were set up in the 1950s and 1960s to house people who could find nowhere else to live due to racism from private landlords and letting agents who told them no Irish, no blacks, no dogs. Fast-forward to 2018 and we still have outright bans, this time because people depend on Housing Benefit. We believe this is not right and must stop.

So together, with Shelter, we’re calling for landlords and letting agents to see sense and assess people on a case by case basis, not through policy bans, and for the Government to urgently invest in the building of new affordable housing.”


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Comments

user_17009

19:27 PM, 22nd August 2018, About 6 years ago

Obfuscated Data

user_17009

19:34 PM, 22nd August 2018, About 6 years ago

Obfuscated Data

Whiteskifreak Surrey

20:17 PM, 22nd August 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Jay James at 22/08/2018 - 15:28
Shelter has a number of posts about discrimination. Try to find it under the one starting with "Our new report with National Housing Federation reveals discrimination against housing benefit tenants is rife, with five leading letting agents at risk of breaking the law." But you are right, they are masters of manipulation and not replying.

AA

21:45 PM, 22nd August 2018, About 6 years ago

I was watching the Victoria Derbyshire show this morning on this topic.
On it were 1 host 1 lawyer 1 Shelter goon with his obligatory beige corduroy s and checked lumberjack design shirt and 1 NLA rep . Not sure who offended me the most. The Shelter goon and his dress sense or the fool allegedly representing landlords. An opportunity to highlight s24, the merciless war on landlords , the risks taken , the compliance ….. on national television . Does he ….eh no. Too busy cosying up to everyone.

Rustie

23:36 PM, 22nd August 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by AA at 22/08/2018 - 21:45
I couldn't agree with you more AA; that would have been a great opportunity to highlight S24. Instead the beige and corduroy left everyone flat.

Rustie

7:12 AM, 23rd August 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Rustie at 22/08/2018 - 23:36
I have long term tenants so I can see the problems there may be with HB

Mick Roberts

7:35 AM, 23rd August 2018, About 6 years ago

Will,

Yeah I know all about UC and Alternative payment arrangements APA. It's not as simple as picking up the phone or sending letter & saying tenant in arrears, please pay me.
I've got APA case now with Independent Case Examiner ICE, who are top of tree set up by Govt to be the Ombudsman if u like, of DWP UC complaints when UC not replied appropriately. ICE are taking currently 17 SEVENTEEN months to look at complaints where, when u aren't getting any UC rent off the tenant & u clearly know they paying the tenant & payments should be reverted to u, as the tenant has been spending it on dating websites & getting luxury coach travel to Margate to meet his internet chicks ON YOUR RENT MONEY!
So you think Aah finally someone independent can look at my complaint & I can start receiving my rent (to get to ICE is a battle, as u need referral letter from DWP & they ain't even replying with referral letter, 'cause they know ICE can't investigate them-Yes honest, ridiculous isn't it?????) & then u find out u still getting no rent in for maybe 2 years.

Bill Irvine at https://universalcreditadvice.com/ is trying to get this changed. It beggars belief to anyone with common sense. Shelter, you coming after the Landlord cause he ain't taking HB, u not in the real world. It's the above reasons why we not taking HB. Channel your real efforts into the REAL REASONS where it's going wrong. You will have much more success, then we will VOLUNTARILY TAKE HB. You go for these rulings against us & Letting Agents, we'll get round it, we'll think of another reason. Go after the processes that stop us taking HB.

Will, the payment up front thing is rammel, it's a loan. Another awkward process they shun't have to. Tenants are worn out with just claiming UC.

Old Mrs Landlord

7:42 AM, 23rd August 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by AA at 22/08/2018 - 21:45
My husband also watched the V. Derbyshire show and desribed the Landlords' Asscn. representative as "useless", but he said he was from RLA not NLA. If I get time I'll see if I can get it on iPlayer or whatever and check that out, unless it winds me up so much I can't bear to see it through to the end!

user_17009

7:45 AM, 23rd August 2018, About 6 years ago

Obfuscated Data

Old Mrs Landlord

7:51 AM, 23rd August 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Old Mrs Landlord at 23/08/2018 - 07:42Thanks Mick, you have increased my vocabulary this morning. Had to google rammel, even though my father came from Derbyshire and used many dialect words.

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