Buy-to-let landlords ignore “NO DSS” tenant blanket ban
despite ‘’unlawful’’ ruling by Judge
despite ‘’unlawful’’ ruling by Judge
The BBC has launched its own investigation into landlords
who still advertise their properties to rent using the terms “No DSS” or
“Working tenants only”. Last month, a District Judge has ruled that blanket
bans on renting properties to people on housing benefit are unlawful and
discriminatory.
who still advertise their properties to rent using the terms “No DSS” or
“Working tenants only”. Last month, a District Judge has ruled that blanket
bans on renting properties to people on housing benefit are unlawful and
discriminatory.
The county court ruling found a single mother-of-two had
experienced indirect discrimination when a letting agent refused to rent to
her. She subsequently ended up homeless with her two children, when her case
was taken on by housing charity Shelter.
experienced indirect discrimination when a letting agent refused to rent to
her. She subsequently ended up homeless with her two children, when her case
was taken on by housing charity Shelter.
The judge ruled "No DSS" rental bans are against
equality laws.
equality laws.
District Judge Victoria Mark heard the case in York County
Court on 1 July, and ruled: "Rejecting tenancy applications because the
applicant is in receipt of housing benefit was unlawfully discriminating on the
grounds of sex and disability" and “contrary to the Equality Act 2010”.
Court on 1 July, and ruled: "Rejecting tenancy applications because the
applicant is in receipt of housing benefit was unlawfully discriminating on the
grounds of sex and disability" and “contrary to the Equality Act 2010”.
According to a BBC report, landlords are apparently still
flouting the “ruling”.
flouting the “ruling”.
However, a lower county court ruling may influence other
court decisions as a ‘persuasive authority’ in similar cases, but is not
binding in law.
court decisions as a ‘persuasive authority’ in similar cases, but is not
binding in law.
The National Residential Landlords Association's (NRLA) Deputy
Director for policy and research, John Stewart, told the BBC that it had
"always advised landlords they should not blanket ban benefit
claimants" but the "fundamental issue was the affordability of
renting".
Director for policy and research, John Stewart, told the BBC that it had
"always advised landlords they should not blanket ban benefit
claimants" but the "fundamental issue was the affordability of
renting".
He added that there are a number of valid reasons why rental
listings said benefit claimants were not accepted, including:
listings said benefit claimants were not accepted, including:
·
The timeliness and levels of benefit awards -
including complaints about universal credit, a shortfall between
housing benefit and private sector rents and in some
cases, fluctuating levels of benefit income
The timeliness and levels of benefit awards -
including complaints about universal credit, a shortfall between
housing benefit and private sector rents and in some
cases, fluctuating levels of benefit income
·
Banks and insurers saw benefit claimants as
higher risk
Banks and insurers saw benefit claimants as
higher risk
·
Landlords trying to avoid extra fees for tenants
who would fail credit checks and references
Landlords trying to avoid extra fees for tenants
who would fail credit checks and references
Complaints about Universal Credit taking months to pay
landlords and then giving the rent directly to the tenant have been widespread.
landlords and then giving the rent directly to the tenant have been widespread.
Source: BBC
Shelter is a left-leaning charity which campaigns for the
end of “no fault” evictions, further regulation in the social housing sector
and new laws to force landowners to build more social housing.
end of “no fault” evictions, further regulation in the social housing sector
and new laws to force landowners to build more social housing.
The organisation has an annual income of £67 million, of
which £18 million comes from “grants and contracts”, some of which comes from
government or taxpayer’s money. They reported a £3.5 million “surplus”
(charities do not pay tax and cannot make profits so the make surpluses
instead), in 2018/19. The CEO is paid a salary of £128,000 a year – over 4
times the UK national average wage.
which £18 million comes from “grants and contracts”, some of which comes from
government or taxpayer’s money. They reported a £3.5 million “surplus”
(charities do not pay tax and cannot make profits so the make surpluses
instead), in 2018/19. The CEO is paid a salary of £128,000 a year – over 4
times the UK national average wage.
Shelter holds £16 million in reserves according to its Annual
Report 2018/19 and had fund balances of £26 million. Although they could
build a lot of social housing with £26 million, Shelter does not provide
“shelter” or housing.
Report 2018/19 and had fund balances of £26 million. Although they could
build a lot of social housing with £26 million, Shelter does not provide
“shelter” or housing.
Left-wing pressure groups like Shelter would like to take
the private rented sector seventy years back to the days of rent controls and
effective lifelong tenancies or ‘sitting tenants’, which would have the effect
of private landlords deserting the market in droves. Ironically, rent controls
in the 1950’s and 1960’s led to a shortage of private rental properties and the
very rogue slum landlords which led to Shelter being founded.
the private rented sector seventy years back to the days of rent controls and
effective lifelong tenancies or ‘sitting tenants’, which would have the effect
of private landlords deserting the market in droves. Ironically, rent controls
in the 1950’s and 1960’s led to a shortage of private rental properties and the
very rogue slum landlords which led to Shelter being founded.
Everyone in the UK should have a home, but does that mean
everyone has a “right” to a home or a legal right to rent a home from a private
buy-to-let landlord regardless of their circumstances?
everyone has a “right” to a home or a legal right to rent a home from a private
buy-to-let landlord regardless of their circumstances?
We are supposed to be living in a free and democratic
capitalist country, not a Marxist state. Landlords must also be able to choose
who they want to take on as a tenant based on their circumstances and ability
to pay.
capitalist country, not a Marxist state. Landlords must also be able to choose
who they want to take on as a tenant based on their circumstances and ability
to pay.
This is not a political blog, but I have to say that
socialism and communism doesn’t work. It has been tried all over the world from
the failed states of USSR to Venezuela, yet keeps coming back like a virus you
can’t kill. Karl Marx idea of capital and land in the hands of the state has
been a disaster and led to millions dying of starvation in Maoist China and
North Korea.
socialism and communism doesn’t work. It has been tried all over the world from
the failed states of USSR to Venezuela, yet keeps coming back like a virus you
can’t kill. Karl Marx idea of capital and land in the hands of the state has
been a disaster and led to millions dying of starvation in Maoist China and
North Korea.
I have current experience with both private and benefit
tenants with mixed results.
tenants with mixed results.
The LHA rates in some areas are simply not competitive or
equivalent to the open market rate and dealing with benefit claims is a steep
learning curve for landlords. Deposits and upfront rent can also be an issue.
equivalent to the open market rate and dealing with benefit claims is a steep
learning curve for landlords. Deposits and upfront rent can also be an issue.
Landlords with buy-to-let mortgages may be in breech of
their mortgage conditions if they let the property to tenants on benefits.
their mortgage conditions if they let the property to tenants on benefits.
The private sector should not have to pick up the pieces for
the failures of successive governments to build sufficient social housing for a
growing low-wage population. There has been no major council house building
programme since the 1970’s.
the failures of successive governments to build sufficient social housing for a
growing low-wage population. There has been no major council house building
programme since the 1970’s.
The last major town to be built with proper infrastructure
and rail transport links was Milton Keynes which, along with other new towns
such a Harlow and Basildon, were planned in the 1960’s.
and rail transport links was Milton Keynes which, along with other new towns
such a Harlow and Basildon, were planned in the 1960’s.
Councils could easily build more social housing and borrow
to do at favourably low rates, but many choose not to for a variety of reasons.
to do at favourably low rates, but many choose not to for a variety of reasons.
·
Zero
interest credit card deals returning
Zero
interest credit card deals returning
·
Is
this the end of work as we know it?
Is
this the end of work as we know it?
·
Is
it really more efficient to work at home?
Is
it really more efficient to work at home?
·
Home
workers one step closer to outsourced
Home
workers one step closer to outsourced
·
What
will happen to all the city office blocks?
What
will happen to all the city office blocks?
·
Companies
still have long leases on big offices
Companies
still have long leases on big offices
·
Why
live in expensive town centres anymore?
Why
live in expensive town centres anymore?
·
The
‘eat out to help out’ scheme ends Monday
The
‘eat out to help out’ scheme ends Monday
·
Thousands
trapped in unsellable leasehold flats
Thousands
trapped in unsellable leasehold flats
·
Number
of homes repossessed falls to record low
Number
of homes repossessed falls to record low
·
Mortgage possession claims fell by 97% to just
161
Mortgage possession claims fell by 97% to just
161
·
2m homeowners apply for mortgage payment
holiday
2m homeowners apply for mortgage payment
holiday
·
Unemployment to double 7.5% and economy slump
9.5%
Unemployment to double 7.5% and economy slump
9.5%
·
Lenders not passing on rate cuts and mortgage
rates going up!
Lenders not passing on rate cuts and mortgage
rates going up!
·
UK property prices jumped by 3% since June
following stamp duty cut
UK property prices jumped by 3% since June
following stamp duty cut
·
You can create a second income during the
lockdown…and come out stronger
You can create a second income during the
lockdown…and come out stronger
Millions of people face a bleak future post-Coronavirus
lockdown, as businesses disappear and the job furlough scheme eventually comes
to an end. However, life doesn’t have to end because of lockdown! You can join
thousands of ordinary people who have increased their income and added
streams of new income during this period.
lockdown, as businesses disappear and the job furlough scheme eventually comes
to an end. However, life doesn’t have to end because of lockdown! You can join
thousands of ordinary people who have increased their income and added
streams of new income during this period.
Are you ready to adapt to the new economic model?
As lockdown restrictions around the world are being eased,
the economic model has subtly changed forever. How will you adapt to this new
way of working and running a business, what obstacles and opportunities lies
ahead? Will you be a participant or spectator in this revolution?
the economic model has subtly changed forever. How will you adapt to this new
way of working and running a business, what obstacles and opportunities lies
ahead? Will you be a participant or spectator in this revolution?
By Charles Kelly, Property Investor, Author of Yes, Money
Can Buy You Happiness and creator of Money Tips Podcast.
Can Buy You Happiness and creator of Money Tips Podcast.
There are more examples and practical
steps to getting rich and being happy in my book, Yes, money can buy happiness, I cover the 3
R’s of Money Management, the Money B.E.L.I.E.F System and much more. Check it
out on Amazon http://bit.ly/2MoneyBook.
steps to getting rich and being happy in my book, Yes, money can buy happiness, I cover the 3
R’s of Money Management, the Money B.E.L.I.E.F System and much more. Check it
out on Amazon http://bit.ly/2MoneyBook.
If you’d like further information on how to survive the
crisis and even quit the rat race, email me at Charles@CharlesKelly.net
or send me a message through Facebook or my Money Tips Daily community. See
more articles at www.moneytipsdaily.com
crisis and even quit the rat race, email me at Charles@CharlesKelly.net
or send me a message through Facebook or my Money Tips Daily community. See
more articles at www.moneytipsdaily.com
No comments:
Post a Comment