Greetings, I Come in Peace

[davetg]

The policy of my LA is to tell tenants to stay put until the day before the bailiff is due.

The problem none working tenants have is that most private landlords will not take them and the majority of properties will be more expensive than the housing element of their benefits so they are far more likely to turn to the LA as a last resort.

[SouthernDave]

Anyone who has received a section 21 notice and goes to their local authority for advice (and, usually, housing) will almost invariably be told to wait until a court has made a possession order before doing anything to help the tenant.

There are three reasons for this:
Local authorities are short of resources to help tenants.
Many s21 notices aren't valid (they are difficult to get right, particularly for an inexperienced landlord).
Many local authorities have no court hearings related to possession orders for months - often the issue just goes away as far as the LA is concerned.

I don't see any reason why a tenant being on UC would have any impact on this at all.
Other than boletus contention that they are more likely to have rent arrears than non UC recipients.

Its because the chance that they will bot leave when told is higher. If you need to evict a tenant and they are on UC then the chance is higher that they will refuse to leave which starts a long and costly legal battle.

[jpkeates]

Its because the chance that they will bot leave when told is higher. If you need to evict a tenant and they are on UC then the chance is higher that they will refuse to leave which starts a long and costly legal battle.

Any evidence to support that?

[SouthernDave]

Any evidence to support that?

Yes, my sister is an estate agent and her company manages all our BTLs, every single one of her landlord clients doesn't want a UC tenant, all for exactly the same reason. Many of whom have lived through the problem and vow to never do it again. Its a regular conversation when we meet up.

[theartfullodger]

So all those working people who are or will be eligible for some UC benefit are to be written off as unworthy?

[SouthernDave]

So all those working people who are or will be eligible for some UC benefit are to be written off as unworthy?

if that question is directed at me;
depending on the specific nature of their income, a decision would be made, luckily, i have been able to be picky on who i have as tenants. the majority of the pool of renters will be in receipt of some kind of benefits, if they were high rollers then they wouldn't need to rent. Its up to each individual landlords to make these commercial decisions, but personally, i go by the advice im given by my sister who has seen it all.

[jpkeates]

I hope she warns the landlords that their policies are now unlawful.

[theartfullodger]

It was a general comment for anyone reading it, no thought of it being "aimed" at anyone.

Many end up in receipt of some benefit or other, often IMHO being at least as decent human beings as any highly paid employee, often doing more worthwhile & essential work

Best wishes to all.

[SouthernDave]

I hope she warns the landlords that their policies are now unlawful.

The gov can legislate whatever they want, but they cant change peoples perceptions, and years of commercial experience.
These decisions are made on a business level, and the last time i checked my company number, it was a limited company and not a charity.
Its a huge shame, i wish the world wasn't the way it is. i listen to my father-in-law talk about the way things were 80 years ago and everyone seemed a lot more decent

[boletus]

I hope she warns the landlords that their policies are now unlawful.

A decent lawyer could batter that nonsense into the long grass but no one would waste serious money bothering.

[boletus]

So all those working people who are or will be eligible for some UC benefit are to be written off as unworthy?

No, just higher risk.

[doobrey]

the way things were 80 years ago

I wish it was 1942.

I bet there was nothing bad happening in 1942.

[SouthernDave]

I wish it was 1942.

I bet there was nothing bad happening in 1942.

Lol, nothing bad at all

[MdeB]

As a total newb, what would be the one piece of advice you would give after your years of experience as a landlord?

Don't trust an agent to do things right.

Remember that in law the buck stops with the landlord, not with the agent.

[doobrey]

Sound advice indeed.