Does anyone know an estate agent/landlord in Essex that will accept DSS?

[vrocket]

Hi Guys, my landlord is selling so wants me out by the end of October.
The rents around here have really gone up since I signed, so I can't afford to stay on the area. I want to move a bit more into Essex, Brentwood Chafford Hundred, anywhere like that.
As soon as I say I'm getting housing benefits, agents are just NO NO NO.
I have 2 kids, and less than 2 months to find somewhere...
Can someone please help me, point me in the right direction of an agent.
I just wanna cry

 

[Puddy_Tat]

apologies if stating the bleeding obvious, but i trust you're aware housing benefit isn't a fixed sum, it does vary according to local rents - more on local housing allowance here. although if you're somewhere bloody expensive, there's a risk of colliding with the household benefits cap.

may also be worth seeing if your local council has any scheme for assisting people find private rentals. some have things like a deposit scheme. although these are usually limited to people who already live in the council's area, so may not help if you do want to move.

I don't know the Essex patch at all so can't make any recommendations. You may do better via local papers and the sort of landlords who avoid agents. Although you may have less protection if the landlord is a twunt.

Also (and I may be stating the obvious again) there are one or two organisations out there who advertise in a way that suggests (without actually saying so) that they are a government agency and they can help people on benefits find tenancies. They have damned expensive phone numbers for a start, and I suspect that's just the start of the rip-off. There's never a flamethrower handy when you need one...

best of luck

 

[Quartz]

Just a thought, but if his target buyers are themselves landlords, you could mention to him that it might be more attractive for him to sell with a tenant - you - in place. After all, it gives the new buyer immediate income. Perhaps the agency through which you rent has landlords looking for properties? There's nothing like a quick sale...

And if the new landlord wants a rent increase then the local DSS might well oblige. Especially if you point out how well your children are settled etc.

Something else: a big problem with properties with DSS tenants is that many insurers refuse to cover them, and those that do charge more. So you might have to do a bit of legwork on behalf of your new landlord.

 

[superfly101]

1st off contact SHELTER on their free phone number to learn your rights and get their advice.

2nd see your Council and join their housing list. Also see if they can mediate or have any assistance to help you find somewhere.

Basically you've got more time than you think as the Landlord can only end the tenancy by going to Court. Any notices you have are just his intention to start the Court process once they have expired. That takes time and everything has to be done correctly for them to succeed.