No landlord should discriminate against tenants because they are in receipt of benefits

No landlord should discriminate against tenants because they are in receipt of benefits

9:23 AM, 24th June 2021, About 3 years ago 49

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Responding to a new report by the University of York on the supply of private rented housing to tenants in receipt of benefits, a spokesperson for the National Residential Landlords Association said:

“No landlord should discriminate against tenants because they are in receipt of benefits. Every tenant’s circumstance is different and so they should be treated on a case-by-case basis based on their ability to sustain a tenancy.

“More broadly, the Government needs to take action to give both tenants and landlords greater confidence that benefits will cover rents. This should include reversing the decision to freeze housing benefit rates in cash terms and ending the five week wait for the first payment of Universal Credit. Ministers should also enable tenants to choose, at the outset of a claim, if they want the housing element of Universal Credit paid directly to their landlord. We need also a renewed focused on developing new social housing, alongside the private rented sector.”


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Comments

Clint

10:39 AM, 24th June 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Dylan Morris at 24/06/2021 - 10:13
There is legislation where, you do not have to pay the benefit back if, you as a landlord were not aware that the tenant was defaulting in some way or the other.
The council tried this several times over the years and did manage to claim money back from me before I knew the legislation however, I always succeeded in not having to pay back the money after I was aware of the legislation.

Now what is far worse, is UC rental payments which, I and many of the landlords have commented about in many posts in the past.

Direct payments is the only solution.

L M

10:39 AM, 24th June 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Dylan Morris at 24/06/2021 - 10:20
That in itself is a massive error created by not providing the bridging between early help a tenant/family get from LA and the landlord. Housing is key to being able to be part of a community...if that is enabled.. good landlords feel confident to be providers and tenants feel able to sustain tenancies!

TheMaluka

10:42 AM, 24th June 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Michael Bond at 24/06/2021 - 10:21
" . . . incompetent local authority officials" - surely not?

Alistair Cooper

11:27 AM, 24th June 2021, About 3 years ago

For once we can in a sarcastic way ‘defend’ the Local Authority Officials! Although the ‘old’ HB system had its numerous faults it was a far better system for all than this incompetently mis administered UC system where as many including myself have mused that the DWP simply refuse to engage with Landlords. I have not had a single response to a single UC47 Direct Claim in over a year!
The sheer waste of taxpayers money is clearly immoral and their dogmatic and ideological refusal to engage with Landlords is incredulous
Sadly the NRLA are not the lobbying instrument they used to be and seem to be more motivated in ‘cosying’ up to Government and appealing to what they perceive as ‘Generation Rent’ rather than representing their own subscribing members

Reluctant Landlord

11:57 AM, 24th June 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Alistair Cooper at 24/06/2021 - 11:27
Here, here! Totally agree. The NRLA needs to step up a gear. I don't care if they are deemed 'militant' as a result - far better being seen and heard that not heard at all.

Clint

12:08 PM, 24th June 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by DSR at 24/06/2021 - 11:57
I fully agree. They seem to be more on the tenant's side from some of the articles I have read.

Clint

12:10 PM, 24th June 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Alistair Cooper at 24/06/2021 - 11:27
I agree. In respect to what we have with UC and housing benefit I would class the council as being superb in this respect.

Reluctant Landlord

12:12 PM, 24th June 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Clint at 24/06/2021 - 12:08totally! complete bias against LL yet we are providing the accommodation the government can't. The government pay the rent regardless, yet they just make it problematic but expecting the tenant to pay it.
There are generations who have been on benefit all their life (and generations before them) so giving them the 'ability to pay their way as if they were working' is total madness. It's not even 'their money' in the first place! It's a handout and HAS to be paid to the person who provides their accommodation.

Even those unfortunate to find themselves in temporary need of rent assistance who have never needed to claim before can see the total sense in this. Even worse, because of these bad tenants who don't pay the LL, ALL benefit tenants get tarred with the same brush. In turn LL don't take on claimants...

terry sullivan

13:27 PM, 24th June 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Dylan Morris at 24/06/2021 - 10:20
illegal action by councils--contempt of court order--perhap[s nlra should sort this?

Mick Roberts

16:28 PM, 24th June 2021, About 3 years ago

Here's another I've had this week, if people want to tell Shelter, MP's, Govt, why we not taking Benefit tenants on.
When u get no rent in or problem, u complain to DWP who we know don't reply, even though at last count, they was spending £200,000 pm on Complaints.
When they don't reply u go to Independant Case Examiner whose address ends with DWP.gov.uk by the way. No conflict of interest there is there.
ICE say we can't answer your complaint Mick as we need DWP to reply first. How stupid is that? However, we have our get out of Jail card, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman PHSO. They just under the GOVT or on top who knows, but they will resolve this debacle. And below is their reply which explains to u Benefit tenants why u cannot get accommodation any more.
U wait two years with no rent in for the complaint to get ICE & u get nothing at the end.
Good Afternoon,
Thank you for your recent email and we are Sorry to hear you are still having difficulty in getting a response to your concerns from ICE to enable you to bring the matter to ourselves.
Unfortunately, we are unable to act until ICE have provided their response.
The best and most effective way to affect change within the DWP may be to ask that your MP raise the matter.
We are sorry we are unable to assist you at this time and hope you get a response from ICE which resolves your concerns, if not we would be happy to progress your Complaint once you have received the response from ICE.
Regards
XXXXXX
Intake Caseworker
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
T: 0345 015 4033
E: phso.enquiries@ombudsman.org.uk
W: http://www.ombudsman.org.uk

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