“No DSS” tenant blanket ban ignored by buy-to-let landlords 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.

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.

The judge ruled "No DSS" rental bans are against 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”.

According to a BBC report, landlords are apparently still 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.

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".

He added that there are a number of valid reasons why rental 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
Banks and insurers saw benefit claimants as higher risk
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

I have current experience with both private and benefit 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.

Landlords with buy-to-let mortgages may be in breech of 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 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.

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.

Other articles available atMoney Tips Podcast - www.moneytipsdaily.com
Zero interest credit card deals returning
Is this the end of work as we know it?
Is it really more efficient to work at home?
Home workers one step closer to outsourced
What will happen to all the city office blocks?
Companies still have long leases on big offices
Why live in expensive town centres anymore?
The ‘eat out to help out’ scheme ends Monday
Thousands trapped in unsellable leasehold flats
Number of homes repossessed falls to record low
Mortgage possession claims fell by 97% to just 161
2m homeowners apply for mortgage payment holiday
Government extends ban on landlords evicting tenants
Unemployment to double 7.5% and economy slump 9.5% 
Self-employed, have you claimed your government grant?
Lenders not passing on rate cuts and mortgage rates going up!
UK property prices jumped by 3% since June following stamp duty cut
Why UK Property prices rising after stamp duty cut, despite the downturn?
New planning rules will open up more opportunities to make money in property
You can create a second income during the lockdown…and come out stronger
Learn how to make money from property without deposits, mortgages or cash

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.

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?

By Charles Kelly, Property Investor, Author of Yes, Money 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.

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

 

&ldquo;No DSS&rdquo; tenant blanket ban ignored by buy-to-let landlords despite &lsquo;unlawful&rsquo; ruling by Judge
The BBC has launched its own investigation into landlords who still advertise their properties to rent using the terms &ldquo;No DSS&rdquo; or &ldquo;Working tenants only&rdquo;. 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 <a href="https://www.shelter.org.uk/">Shelter</a>.
The judge ruled "No DSS" rental bans are against 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 &ldquo;contrary to the Equality Act 2010&rdquo;.
According to a BBC report, landlords are apparently still flouting the &ldquo;ruling&rdquo;.
However, a lower county court ruling may influence other court decisions as a &lsquo;persuasive authority&rsquo; 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".
He added that there are a number of valid reasons why rental listings said benefit claimants were not accepted, including:
<ul>
<li>The timeliness and levels of benefit awards - including&nbsp;complaints about universal credit, a&nbsp;shortfall between housing benefit and private sector rents&nbsp;and in some cases,&nbsp;fluctuating levels of benefit income</li>
<li>Banks and insurers saw benefit claimants as higher risk</li>
<li>Landlords trying to avoid extra fees for tenants who would fail&nbsp;credit checks and references</li>
</ul>
Complaints about Universal Credit taking months to pay 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 &ldquo;no fault&rdquo; 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 &pound;67 million, of which &pound;18 million comes from &ldquo;grants and contracts&rdquo;, some of which comes from government or taxpayer&rsquo;s money. They reported a &pound;3.5 million &ldquo;surplus&rdquo; (charities do not pay tax and cannot make profits so the make surpluses instead), in 2018/19. The CEO is paid a salary of &pound;128,000 a year &ndash; over 4 times the UK national average wage.
Shelter holds &pound;16 million in reserves according to its <a href="https://england.shelter.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/1846128/Annual_Report_2018-19.pdf">Annual Report 2018/19</a> and had fund balances of &pound;26 million. Although they could build a lot of social housing with &pound;26 million, Shelter does not provide &ldquo;shelter&rdquo; 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 &lsquo;sitting tenants&rsquo;, which would have the effect of private landlords deserting the market in droves. Ironically, rent controls in the 1950&rsquo;s and 1960&rsquo;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 &ldquo;right&rdquo; 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.
This is not a political blog, but I have to say that socialism and communism doesn&rsquo;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&rsquo;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.
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.
Landlords with buy-to-let mortgages may be in breech of 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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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.
Other articles available at <a href="http://www.moneytipsdaily.com/">Money Tips Podcast</a> - <a href="http://www.moneytipsdaily.com/">www.moneytipsdaily.com</a>
<ul>
<li>Zero interest credit card deals returning</li>
<li>Is this the end of work as we know it?</li>
<li>Is it really more efficient to work at home?</li>
<li>Home workers one step closer to outsourced</li>
<li>What will happen to all the city office blocks?</li>
<li>Companies still have long leases on big offices</li>
<li>Why live in expensive town centres anymore?</li>
<li>The &lsquo;eat out to help out&rsquo; scheme ends Monday</li>
<li>Thousands trapped in unsellable leasehold flats</li>
<li>Number of homes repossessed falls to record low</li>
<li>Mortgage possession claims fell by 97% to just 161</li>
<li>2m homeowners apply for mortgage payment holiday</li>
<li>Government <a href="http://www.moneytipsdaily.com/u-turn-on-tenant-eviction-ban-as-government-extends-by-four-weeks/">extends ban on landlords evicting tenants</a></li>
<li>Unemployment to double 7.5% and economy slump 9.5% </li>
<li>Self-employed, <a href="http://www.moneytipsdaily.com/self-employed-have-you-claimed-a-grant-through-the-self-employment-income-support-scheme/">have you claimed your government grant</a>?</li>
<li>Lenders not passing on rate cuts and mortgage rates going up!</li>
<li>UK property prices jumped by 3% since June following stamp duty cut</li>
<li>Why UK <a href="http://www.moneytipsdaily.com/uk-property-prices-rise-after-stamp-duty-cut-say-rightmove/">Property prices rising after stamp duty cut</a>, despite the downturn?</li>
<li>New planning rules will open up more opportunities to make money in property</li>
<li>You can create a second income during the lockdown&hellip;and come out stronger</li>
<li>Learn how to make money from property without deposits, mortgages or cash</li>
</ul>
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&rsquo;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?
By Charles Kelly, Property Investor, Author of Yes, Money 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, <a href="http://bit.ly/2MoneyBook">Yes, money can buy happiness</a>, I cover the 3 R&rsquo;s of Money Management, the Money B.E.L.I.E.F System and much more. Check it out on Amazon <a href="http://bit.ly/2MoneyBook">http://bit.ly/2MoneyBook</a>.
If you&rsquo;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 <a href="http://www.moneytipsdaily.com/">www.moneytipsdaily.com</a>
&nbsp;

Money Tips by Charles Kelly, author of Yes, Money Can Buy You Happiness.  Charles spent over 25 years in financial services working for banks, Insurance companies and as a qualified Independent Financial Adviser running his practice, before setting up his speaking, consultancy and property business.  Money Tips will help you save, make and accumulate more money whether you are a business owner, entrepreneur, employee or still searching for your vocation.   For more tips and information visit Mondeytipsdaily.com. The Information given in this podcast is for your entertainment and should not be construed as financial advice. As always, take independent financial advice before making any investment decisions.

Money Tips by Charles Kelly, author of Yes, Money Can Buy You Happiness.&nbsp; Charles spent over 25 years in financial services working for banks, Insurance companies and as a qualified Independent Financial Adviser running his practice, before setting up his speaking, consultancy and property business.&nbsp; Money Tips will help you save, make and accumulate more money whether you are a business owner, entrepreneur, employee or still searching for your vocation. &nbsp; For more tips and information visit Mondeytipsdaily.com. The Information given in this podcast is for your entertainment and should not be construed as financial advice. As always, take independent financial advice before making any investment decisions.

Money Tips Podcast

Welcome to Money Tips by Charles Kelly, author of Yes, Money Can Buy You Happiness. 

Charles spent over 25 years in financial services working for banks, Insurance companies and as a qualified Independent Financial Adviser running his practice, before setting up his speaking, consultancy and property business. 

Money Tips will help you save, make and accumulate more money whether you are a business owner, entrepreneur, employee or still searching for your vocation.  

For more tips and information visit Mondeytipsdaily.com. The Information given in this podcast is for your entertainment and should not be construed as financial advice. As always, take independent financial advice before making any investment decisions.

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