SMF - Just Installed!

Protection against DSS - oooo the plague

Started by nick4smidge, August 25, 2008, 10:01:44 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

nick4smidge

Do landlords really need proetection from DSS tenants?

I rang up 4 letting agents and everything was fine and viewings were going to be arranged. I told them that I was medically retired as I am unable to work (believe me if someone who understood my illness would employ me and pay me enough I would work but this is reality).
Anyway, as soon as I say housing allowance and benefits its a complete change. I say its due to ill health but they hear benefits = scroungers / yobs / criminals = no deal.

I ask them why and in all cases they say:

We are protecting our landlords.

I say:

But I have an income in law  even though it is a state one. I have been told that is discrimination under the DDA 1995.

Then they go on about:

Our landlords insurance is invalid for DSS tenants / its a blanket policy / if the claim in fraudulent (cheer mate) they will come after the landlord.


I now that in law they WILL NOT come after the landlord - they will come after the tenant who is the criminal unless the landlord knew about it.
Blanket policy should be altered in the case of the disbaled - read the DDA or Human Rights Act article 14 and 15.
What sodding insurance - none to my knowledge as a former employee of the FSA.

So what is the truth?


propertyfag

Hmm that doesn't sound right.

I had rental guarantee insurance by a company called HomeLet and it covered DSS tenants. In fact, I actually had to make a claim against a DSS tenant because she failed to make rental payments.

MichelleMcDines

A lot of mortgage lenders stipulate what kinds of tenants you can have in your property.  I know many of my mortgages say No DSS so I tend to stick to working tenants, however I take an open view and look at a person's circumstances.

Again buildings and contents insurance can ask about tenant status, but even on a block policy (which I have) I can specify which properties have which kind of tenants in them and as far as I can tell there isn't a noticeable difference in the premium - it seems to be more about companies gathering data.

One of my best tenants is disabled and receives Incapacity Benefit and Housing Benefit.  The HB comes directly to me and the tenant has a paying in book to use to top up to the agreed rent. 

We even came to an arrangement when his HB increased unexpectedly that we would increase the rent at that time by such an amount that we split the HB increase between us - we got more rent and the amount he needed to top up went down so he was better off each month.

He and his family look after the place really well and even let me know when other houses in the area come up for sale.