‘Benefits blackspots’ are emerging in the UK as landlords evict welfare claimants from rented housing. Share your experiences of renting while claiming housing benefit…
‘Benefits blackspots’ are emerging in the UK as landlords evict welfare claimants from rented housing. Share your experiences of renting while claiming housing benefit…
Housing charity Shelter has warned that entire UK communities could become claimant-free zones, after the Guardian revealed on Saturday that one of Britain’s best-known landlords has sent out eviction notices to every tenant who is receiving benefits. Fergus Wilson, who owns almost 1,000 properties in Kent, has also informed letting agents that he will no longer accept applicants who need housing benefit.
“Rents have gone north, and benefit levels south,” he said. “The gap is such that I have taken the decision to withdraw from taking tenants on housing benefit. From what I can gather, just about all other landlords have done the same. Our situation is that not one of our working tenants is in arrears – all those in arrears are on housing benefit.”
Problems for tenants on benefits seem likely to get worse when universal credit is introduced. Under the scheme, six means-tested benefits – including housing benefit – will be combined into one monthly payment. Some landlords have indicated that they will be unwilling to rent to those getting the payments.