We’ve put the findings from our snapshot survey together with data from research on landlord perspectives on renting to housing benefit tenants. You can download the Locked out briefing here.
According to recent research by the Department for Work and Pensions, landlords are in large numbers saying that direct payments would help in agreeing to rent reductions, and that they are regularly experiencing problems with regular payments and rent arrears with the current system.
We’ve also heard comments from landlords about the many reasons for not renting to housing benefit tenants, such as difficulties with the mortgage provider or with buy-to-let insurance refusing to accept housing benefit tenants, as well as issues around the delivery of housing benefit payments. Housing benefit is paid in arrears every 4 weeks, and so it is difficult to meet calendar monthly payments in advance as required for many private tenancies.
We’re interested in hearing from you if you are a tenant or a landlord experiencing difficulties with housing benefit changes – please add your comments below!
I am a private tenant, me and my partner are under 30 with a 3 year old child, we both work between us 40hours a week and my father had agreed to be our guarantor, hes never had a bad credit rating and has worked in the forces for nearly 30 years.. and we still were refused properties, its so disheartening. And when you do find somewhere, the landlord never wants to fulfil the jobs that need doing!
Posted by Jemma King | 18 August 2012, 12:11 amThanks for your comment, Jemma – if you need any advice on dealing with problems with a private landlord please do email us for details on accessing advice in your local area – you can email us at hackneycabcrowdmap@gmail.com.
Posted by admin | 22 August 2012, 4:41 pm