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Forums > Active > The Netrent Forum
Subject: Housing Benefit

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Author Messages
jacky
Posts:1
03 Oct 2006 07:14:22 Alert 
Has anyone else been stiched up by housing benefit?

We now have a policy of only taking people on benefit if they can provide a home owner as guarentor due to the fact that we feel that we do not get any back up from housing benefit with regard to payments.

Example; young single mum starts work - doesnt bother to send in the relevent paperwork to housing benefit so her benefit gets cancelled. We issue her with a two month notice to quit - by the time this has gone through the court process we have had no rent for nearly 3 months and housing benefit have paid her direct even though we have been in constant contact with them throughout.

I think that guarantors are going to be the only way to accept people on benefit now........especially more so when its changes to local housing allowence and they all get apid direct.
Lizzie
Posts:25
03 Oct 2006 07:23:04 Alert 
I totally agree. Local authorities have to get their act together on this one. The government go on about how they want authorties to work with private landlords and then in the name of political correctness they make landlords lives more difficult.
Sparky
Posts:9
04 Oct 2006 10:20:23 Alert 
I have recently had two situations where Housing Benefits have not supported me, therefore no more will I take tenants who are on Housing Benefit.

The first case was a single mum, who for over 18 months her rent in arrears was being paid direct to me by Housing Benefit. Then the tenant gave one months notice, and requested the return of her deposit, there was never a deposit paid, so alarm bells sounded. I telephoned housing who informed me that the tenant had requested the rent NOW be paid directly to her. Housing stated the rent was her money to do what SHE wanted to do with it. I was caught for £1300 on rent arrears, and then the Housing tried to chase me for £350 because the tenant had given them the wrong information.

The next case was a family (2) of immigrants, the Housing again paying their rent in arrears, 3 months ago payment stopped. I contacted the Housing who said they had relooked at their case, but payment of the arrears would be paid next week (last week). Instead of £1750 arrears I received £134, contacted the Housing and was informed that is all the tenants are entitled to. The very next day I received written notice from the Housing confirming the same.

To rub salt into the wounds, when I contacted the tenants they informed me they were just flying back to the UK and would be in touch with me the next day, did they contacxt me NO, please see my new posting.
sheriff fatman
Posts:5
17 Oct 2006 19:04:42 Alert 
i have to say that when i have spoken to the council and social workers they seem surprised that landlords loathe renting to people in distress or just on benefit due to the delay in paying the rent. I currently have someone who is nearly a grand behind in his rent as the council couldnt get it sorted and are paying 8 weeks in arrears. this situation took 6 months to sort as up til then they paid nothing and did not contact me for entry to the house for an appraisal and indeed nothing except to mither me for 3 copies of the agreement because they kept losing them. great. i am now out of pocket and have no guarantee that if my tenant gets back to full health before the 12 months are up that i will ever get the rent owing. bet they start the clawback next week.
advice for landlords-don't deal with the council-remember it's not their money or time they are wasting - it's yours.
mojito
Posts:2
03 Feb 2008 15:35:57 Alert 
Completely agree, one HB tenant went into arrears, never sorted out his application and when he finally left at the end of his lease we are still out of funds to the tune of £800. Sent a small claims summons and are awaiting the outcome but not holding our breath. Another two tenants started out in work but soon needed Housing Benefit and three months later still haven't conquered the application form. When we call the HB office to enquire why our tenant still is not receiving support we are told they cannot give out information due to the Data Protection Act. In future we are sticking with the working community where, touch wood, we haven't had many problems.
Pebble.co.uk.ltd
Posts:27
04 Feb 2008 04:20:39 Alert 
Make sure that when you obtain a guarantor, that they are in full time employment, own their own house, take full references on their financial position. A seperate agreement (NOT A AST) should be drawn also. This guarantor agreement should not be revocable in the effect of the guarantors/tenants death. It should guarantee the original agreemen, renewal or variation thereof.
mojito
Posts:2
08 Feb 2008 08:32:31 Alert 
I now refuse to rent to people on HB but it's annoying how quickly someone working can lose their job. What can you do when the tenant now with baby just will not apply for HB. I've even offered to go round to the office with her. She's now over 3 months in arrears so another NTQ to serve.
james2007
Posts:4
21 Feb 2008 14:23:36 Alert 
You can have the benefit paid directly to your bank account but of course this is ONLY whilst it is being paid. I could not believe the form-filling in. After a weeks holiday I returned to find THREE conflicting letters from the local authority. Frankly I am going to say BYE BYE to let.
James
Just little me
Posts:1
16 Oct 2008 16:26:06 Alert 
Hi Mojito, Once your tenants are 8 weeks or more in arrears you can apply to HB to have the rent paid directly to you. Good luck!
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Forums > Active > The Netrent Forum > Housing Benefit


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