Advice Please On Dss Renting

[mrsadcafe]

I Will Be Renting Out My House And Have Been Asked By A Customer Claiming Dss If I Would Consider Her.
They Cant Afford A Deposit But Would Be Adding £50 Aweek To Top The Rent Up.
They Are Providing References From Previous Landlord.
Anybody Had Any Dealingd Thanks.

 

[David A]

I Will Be Renting Out My House And Have Been Asked By A Customer Claiming Dss If I Would Consider Her.
They Cant Afford A Deposit But Would Be Adding £50 Aweek To Top The Rent Up.
They Are Providing References From Previous Landlord.
Anybody Had Any Dealingd Thanks.

I wasn't going to reply, as Giving Every Word A Capital Letter Makes Reading Difficult, so I must be in a good mood tonight.

Firstly, DSS hasn't been involved in housing costs for a couple of decades - it's now Housing Benefit paid through the local council.

Secondly, how on earth is she going to afford £50 a week top-up? If was £10 or less, then this might be workable. Demand to see her benefit award letter to see what she gets and that she is entitled to the number of bedrooms of the property. Then get her to do an expenditure sheet - I bet she won't have £50 spare.

Third, a reference from her current landlord won't be worth the paper its written on (most private landlords will not give a bad reference to a bad tenant - after all, they want to get rid, which won't happen if they tell the truth) If you mean immediate PAST landlord, then this will count for something - but get evidence that she actually lived at the property (the reference could be fictitious) and also make contact with the landlord to check the reference is valid.

HB tenants can give good long-term income, but check every detail as there are some awful rogues about.

 

[tony84]

Id agree, if your not experienced on this sort of thing, i would actually consider using a letting agent or at the very least having landlords insurance which includes legal fees for evicting someone etc.
It sounds very sterotypical and i genuinely dont mean it to as not everyone claiming is a bad person. But your best to cover your back.

(Im plugging a little here, but i sell an insurance policy that covers your legal bills, gives you a shorthold tenancy agreement to give to the client, they will credit check them and if the client stops paying they will carry on paying your rent for 6% of the monthly rent).

I rented out a property and had a client who converted the basement to a canabis farm drilling a 5 inch hole in the wall to allow air to flow through the room. She had 2 young kids and a job, she seemed lovely...so it doesnt matter who is renting your property working or not anything can happen.

 

[pen2670]

Some councils will lend private tenants a deposit so is worth asking her to approach the council.

You can also check yourself how much benefit she would receive towards your rent by searching for LHA (Local Housing Allowance), checking how many bedrooms the scheme entitles her to and the rate for your area for a property with that many bedrooms (irrispective of how many bedrooms your house has).

Hope it works out!

 

[DetectiveDenise]

Please, please please thoroughly research any tenant you get in whether DSS or not the money will be paid to her and then you have to rely on her handing it over. I have seen so many new landlords being taken for a ride by false references, made up addresses. As others have said the council may help her out with the deposit, but follow up references, not just by phone call but by address etc. Also a guarantor might be applicable in these circumstances.
Regards
Denise