Why landlords won’t take LHA tenants – this brave tenant has gone public.

Why landlords won’t take LHA tenants – this brave tenant has gone public.

16:28 PM, 11th February 2012, About 12 years ago 51

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Government need to take note because this illness has reached epidemic proportions and, in my opinion, is the reason many private landlords are refusing to take tenants on benefits. If a cure is not found soon Shelter may need to build shelters to house sufferers. I know that it is not PC to suggest that people are isolated because of their unfortunate health problems but maybe it is time that sufferers were kept in a controlled environment to prevent further spread of this syndrome?

Perhaps Government could put in some funding and ask one of our excellent universities to carry out some research?


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Comments

Mary Latham

17:08 PM, 20th February 2012, About 12 years ago

Mark I do not use RGI either and therefore I am choosing to underwrite my losses having taken every precaution, as you do, to minimise them.  I must admit that I don't know much about the detail of RGI and it occurs to me that it would make a useful reference blog, particularly for new landlords who are self managing.  Can we have one please?

17:38 PM, 20th February 2012, About 12 years ago

Yes I would love to be in the position you are to effectively self insure.
I am not and am left with little choice than to use RGI.
Aside from my own personal position the suggested course of action was for those LL without a RGI policy in place.
And yes if my working tenants claimed LHA and then didn't pass the rent onto me; then I would initiate a claim.
For those without RGI they would follow the court eviction strategy with direct payment of LHA applied for and received.
Of course some LL may choose direct payment and keep the tenant.
Personally any LHA claimant that didn't pass on the LHA I would want rid of.
However I appreciate some LL may prefer to take the hit and receive direct payment.
Of course direct payment could raise all sorts of problems for the LL if the LHA claim is subsequently disqualified.
That is why I would only have direct payment whilst I would be in the process of evicting the tenant.
If the council did successfully mange to reclaim fom me LHA paid directly,; hopefully it would be a small amount if I managed to evict fairly quickly, ......... some hope!?

Mary Latham

18:03 PM, 20th February 2012, About 12 years ago

Paul I am interested in how RGI works for landlords.  Your post has raised a question.

If there was a reclaim of LHA, from a landlord who received direct payment, would RGI pay the landlord?  This would, afterall, be a loss of rent.

18:53 PM, 20th February 2012, About 12 years ago

Good point; I will raise the issue with the RGI company.
If the RGI company paid out for the 2 months LHA not passed on and then the directly paid LHA was reclaimed, whilst the tenant is being evicted I would presume the claim would still be active.
I am not sure what the protocol is for my  RGI.
You could have a situation where RGI rent is paid out as how will the RGI company know you have bothered to apply for direct payment.
You could end up in the situation of receiving direct LHA payment and RGI rent payment until eviction occurs.
Though I am sure if this situation arose it surely must be a requirement for rent to be received directly as this lessens the rent the RGI company pays out.
Though of course the insurance is for rent that the tenant has not paid you.
If the RGI company did not pay the rent as they insisted you apply for and presumably  were successful in obtaining direct payment; what would happen if subsequently those direct payments were reclaimed successfully by the council.
I would presume that as the RGI company had insisted, most likely on submitting for the LHA to be paid directly, that they could hardly avoid paying out the rent that they did not have to pay out for initially as direct payment of LHA was facilitated.
Your simple question to my post has now raised in my mind all sorts of queries which had not occurred to me!

Mary Latham

19:32 PM, 20th February 2012, About 12 years ago

Paul Your brain will hurt if you keep up all that activity hahahaha

Will you please ask the question of your insurer and post to tell us what they say?  Just my simple question If there is a reclaim of LHA paid directly to the landlord will they pay the lost rent?  If you ask them all yout other questions your will need insurance to cover your phone bill. hahaha

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

20:18 PM, 20th February 2012, About 12 years ago

Hi Mary

It's not strictly true that I don't have RGI (Rent Guarantee Insurance). My brother has a letting agency which can access tenant referencing combined with 6 month RGI underwritten by DAS for £36 + VAT. This isn't available publicy to private landlords but should be just after Easter. There will also be an extendable version of the RGI policy. It is for that reason I've been holding off writing a featured article on this subject as I'm also hoping that the suppliers of this product will wish to sponsor "The Good Landlords Campaign".

20:35 PM, 20th February 2012, About 12 years ago

I will mention this sponsor situation when I have my long...................................conversation with the provider I have used for my RGI!

20:37 PM, 20th February 2012, About 12 years ago

I have 4000 mins to use a month on me little old moby;  I have NEVER come anywhere near using them all up!!!
So hopefully I will be fully apprised as to ALL my queries!!?

Mary Latham

20:58 PM, 20th February 2012, About 12 years ago

Call British Gas I promise they will use them up for you!!

22:40 PM, 20th February 2012, About 12 years ago

You've obviously had issues with this mob; I know where you are coming from as I have had issues with them!
One reason why I don't use them anymore!

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