Why are some landlords so funny about DSS and Animals?

Question

Before the more biggotted among you start, I'm thinking about those on DSS because they are working and getting a low wage or are not in a position to work - ie, carers, retired, disabled not those who do nothing.

Also, animals who are well cared for, pose no problems & are clean and of good character!

Answer 1

Unfortunately, a lot of DSS tenants are trouble for landlords. They can't afford a normal deposit and so the landlord has little security in case they trash the place. This also means that if they don't make rental payments again the landlord has little comeback. Another reason is that housing benefit usually takes a couple of months to set up, so the landlord won't get any money for the first couple of months, which is difficult for them if they are paying a mortgage on the property.

Animals can also cause problems, introducing fleas for example. Alternatively, they can cause damage to the house such as cats scratching at the walls and carpets. If they soil the floor, the smell can be near impossible to remove.

All of these discourage landlords, who could have people in their with a full deposit, regular payments and no damage from pets.

Saying that though, I do understand how difficult it can be for tenants. I was severely ill years back, and was classified as disabled for a couple of years until I recovered thankfully. I got benefits such as housing benefit etc, but had a really hard job finding a landlord who'd take us, especially as my ex had 4 cats as well! It wasn't my fault I couldn't work, and it made life so much more stressfull having to keep the landlord happy whilst housing benefit was being set up.

I can as a result of my experiences see both sides of the argument. Thankfully though, there are a few landlords out there who will take people on DSS and with pets, its just a job to find them!

Answer 2

Landlords just want to get a good return on their investment for the minimum trouble. Like most of us, they'd rather not risk their own investment any more than strictly necessary.

A pet owner can be absolutely convinced that their little Tiddles or Rover is 'no bother at all, so loveable', because they honestly believe that the rest of the world is as besotted by their bundle of fluff as they are. Said bundle could still be incontinent, aggressive, a serial howler/barker or otherwise a nuisance. It's very difficult (and expensive) to persuade a court to make someone homeless because an animal is causing nuisance, until someone is actually hurt or killed.

Likewise, a DSS tenant may be getting their rent paid by the State now, but there's been discussion before of paying Housing Benefit direct to the tenant. if that happens, and the tenant spends the lot instead of paying rent, the landlord faces a long and expensive legal process to get the tenant out, and the tenant has no assets that the landlord can claim to pay his costs.

You can't really blame someone for playing safe when it comes to their own money.

Answer 3

The main reason for not accepting benefit claimants is because it can take up to 6 months before any rent is seen. The local authority that dish out housing benefit are not very good or quick at it.

And secondly with the new laws now coming in where the benefit will be paid straight to the tenant and not the landlord has also resulted in an outcry because the landlords probably wont see their rent cheque

As for animals....well its just the preference of the person owning the house just as it is when you see a property advertised for non smokers

Some landlords will say no pets but its always worth asking them again because some pets are not going to be any problem at all eg a goldfish!

Answer 4

Often landlords who own apartments in communal blocks are governed by a lease stating no animals, so often it is not their own ruling, but something they have to adhere to and enforced by the management company. Also pets can cause more wear and tear on furnishings and floorings and the tenant will never want to part with any deposit monies to put the problem right.
With regard to DSS there is sometimes a waiting period for rent whilst paperwork is put into place. And again because the tenant is sometimes at home more, further wear and tear and the running up of gas/elec bills that could go unpaid.

Answer 5

the rationalization diverse landlords wont except dss earnings tenants is that the housing earnings take weeks to go back via and the owner has to watch for the money. also the recent guidelines re housing earnings are that the ease is paid immediately to the tenant in the adventure that they request the position because the ease replaced into continuously paid to landlord. This makes housing earnings tenants a tremendous chance as they do no longer have the earnings to pay the employ and may want to correctly be tempted to spend the housing earnings on something except the employ.

Answer 6

Many landlords don't want to deal with the government regulations and headaches of dealing with DSS.

Many people on DSS are there because they refuse to better their own lives and work for a living.

And not all animals are well cared for, pose no problems and are clean and of good character.

To summarize, if you rent to a DSS recipient and they do $30,000 worth of damages to your property, you would never get that money back--landlord's loss. And with pets the landlord's insurance goes up, and if the pet destroys the house or bites someone the landlord gets to pay for that too.

Being a landlord can be a royal pain in the butt. Some landlords have decided they don't want to deal with the crap. Personally, I can't blame them.

Answer 7

The thing is, landlords always have to worry about being sued for discrimination, especially if they own properties where they take Section 8 vouchers.

I don't allow pets b/c too many people lie about how "housebroken" the pets are. If you ever had to spend $3,000 to $4,0000 (which is about 1/2 of a yearly rental) to replace hardwoods, have them refinished, or replace an entire house of carpet...I guarantee you wouldn't accept another pet.

On Section 8, if someone doesn't have a 100% voucher, I don't accept it. If they are responsible for paying $10 a month...you'll never see it. That is legal for me to do.

I also only accept Section 8 from SINGLE mothers with small children....I can also legally do that. All you have to have is enough teenagers destroying your property or alot of domestic violence, and you would feel that same way too...I can also legally do that.

I can't pick and choose WHICH people I can apply my "rules" to, but if I have the same for everyone for all my properties, then no one can scream discrimination later.

Answer 8

As a property owner in the US who loves animals, especially dobermans - large, often misrepresented dog- , never judgemental on DSS recipients, noticed that some recipients simply do not value what they do not own, although I have made the assumption if you are paying rent to something, you own it for at least 30 days, nor do some recipient pet owners care that their precious is using my carpet as his toilet and not taking time to clean it and minimize the smell immediately.

Few people make it bad for a whole lot of people, making landlords protective of their investment and cannot allow all they've sacrificed for to be devalued for people that do not take value in it because it is not theirs..

Answer 9

The DSS can fall behind badly with payments and a lot of landlords don't like that. Also pets leave smells no matter how well cared for and can do damage.

Answer 10

Animals can cause damage and they leave a smell

In regards to dss .. many landlords will not touch as it takes so long for any monies to be paid out from dss