UK Landlord Forum / Life

I have some tenants that I have had for 8 years who have always paid the rent in full & on time [except for a couple of times] The husband has left the family home & have  split & now the wife wants to stay on with the kids-who go to school locally.
The husband is the only one on the Tenancy Agreement & not the wife & kids ? 
The wife wants to go via DSS to pay the rent & take over the Tenancy &  sign a new Tenancy Agreement and use the husband as a guarantor - 

So I am trying to decide what to do-  either serve notice & re-rent the house to a fresh bunch of  tenants or  go down the DSS council route ?

What are the implications ?

Thanks

After 8 years I would trust her to pay the DSS money

DSS does not exist. Is the woman employed at all, will the LHA amount for your area cover the rent 100% or will there be a need for a top-up? Get the facts in front of you and make a decision. With the best will in the world, if the rent for your property is 120% of the LHA amount, this Tenant may struggle... which is good for no-one.

Hippo


You keep pointing out ( well twice that I have seen) that the DSS does not exist.

Can you not just accept that it is a  known reference to rent being paid by the state in some way?

Dole, Job Seekers, ESSA..... its all the same, Dole I think you would understand more readily than ESSA?

No. I believe Landlords should not only be correct in their actions but also the terminology used. It avoids confusion. You can, of course, call it - or anything - what you want. No point being in touch with the DVLC, the Inland Revenue etc. is there?

In addition, I have tried to assist the OP in their thinking... you've not, yet. Best to focus on the right stuff.

Check your insurance documents as some insurers will not cover tenants on benefits.

Quote from: Hippogriff on January 27, 2015, 09:27:51 AM
No. I believe Landlords should not only be correct in their actions but also the terminology used. It avoids confusion. You can, of course, call it - or anything - what you want. No point being in touch with the DVLC, the Inland Revenue etc. is there?

In addition, I have tried to assist the OP in their thinking... you've not, yet. Best to focus on the right stuff.

True, but its still pedantic.

As for OP's position, it'll either be the right thing to do or the wrong thing... In my experience it never turns out well, but I would still offer them the chance in the vain hope that this time it may be different.....