Chosen by Asker

I think these signs are a wonderful idea! Too many people in this country claim benefits to which they are not truly entitled, or they abuse the system altogether. To claim housing benefit and then not use it for paying your rent is fraud - same as claiming unemployment benefits and working at the same time. Name and shame - I'm all for it. A landlord has to take financial risks to purchase or mortgage a property and put it up for rental - I think he has every right to do whatever necessary to ensure his rent is there. Too many tenants think they have a right to write the rules but are not prepared to undertake the risks involved with providing housing in the first place. I appreciate not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to purchase a property, but if you have to rent one, at least be fair enough to pay the rent. And I'm not "slating" people on benefits - some are more fortunate than others with regard to employment etc. BUT at least use what you are claiming under a specific title eg housing benefit, to pay for that particular commodity. Why should a landlord struggle with a mortgage for someone else to live rent free, especially when they are getting help with the costs of that rent?

by new nanna

5 months ago

Asker's Rating: 

I don't like renters as much as the next person but that is pretty childish

by Peanuts- 5 months ago

Well to be honest, i think that is was pretty stupid to give people claiming benefits control over the money. If they were good with money, they wouldn't be on benefits in the first place! They are dependant on the state and therefore they should be treated like children and have no control. I would even go as far as to giving them 100% vouchers for food and clothes - everytime i see someone that claims benefits with a cigarette or more expensive clothes than i wear - i just want to scream. I think the signs are a bit childish, but i don't think they are aimed at the person living in the apartment - i think they are just trying to protest against the changes in the Housing Act.

by Luli- 5 months ago

luli, not all people that are on benefits spend all there money on things like that!! Some of us are on them, having lost are jobs in this current climate, I take it if you lose yours, and, like many hundreds of people, struggle to get a new due to so many people applying for 1 position, then you wont mind being treated like a child, having food vouchers etc? I am only 28, single mum to 2 kids, but was never on any kind of benefit until recently, when i was made redundant and have yet been able to find a job. Since i was 16 i had the same job, paid taxes etc. Was made redundant through no fault of my own, so i should be treated like a child. Dont tar all people on benefits with the same brush, yes there are some that abuse the system, but we only hear if this because of the press, we dont hear of the many of thousands of people who dont. You should really hope nothing happens and you also lose your job, else you could also fit into this category. Some people really are up their own a**e. Back to the question, I do agree with this, but it wont be just pwople on housing benefit this happens to, Some so called "Professional" people are also the same EDIT well said Kendra26, some people come on here just to slate people on benefits, lets hope noone in there family goes on them, or they would have to disown them for being a "scrounger"!

by C R- 5 months ago

it seems to me that the benefits should be paid directly to the landlord as a means of protecting the landlord. If the renter doesn't want this sign displayed, he or she should pay his rent!

by mykatesmom- 5 months ago

I disagree with this. Not ALL benefit claimants are scroungers who don't pay their rent. The reason why HB payments were changed to pay the tenants and not the landlord was because people who moved in whilst working were then being kicked out once on HB. Now landlords do not have to know unless the tenants are already in arrears when going to claim HB. There are also MANY tenants who do not pay rent on time who do NOT get benefits. My upstairs neighbour is one of them! Also putting a sign up saying *rent Dodger* assumes someone is purposely withholding rent for no good reason. Many people fall into arrears for various reasons and not just because of benefit money being withheld/misused. While I feel greatly for these landlords (My grandparents had many problem with tenants themselves) and especially private people who have done a buy to let property and must pay a mortgage as well as their own rent money, I do not feel this is the right way to go about it. While we are at it, lets bring back the stocks, jail people who don't pay their rent and debts and bring back workhouses for single mothers! There are other adult ways to go about this and putting a childish tantrum throwing sign up does not help either party neither does it force people to pay especially those who simply do not have the money to pay the arrears! In terms on paying HB directly to tenants, i do feel for the majority of people it would be better being paid to the landlord to make sure these things do not happen. However in most cases, tenants must also pay some of the rent from other benefits, thus the issue of getting into arrears and non payments is still alive and well, therefore the signs will still go up! Your also back to people being kicked out once claiming HB. I think it's a complicated issue and in these times of recession, doing something like this does NOT help relations between agencies, landlord and tenants! Edit2: that's ok, your free to disagree lol I think your thinking either council or landlords who actaully take DSS and have fair rent. we do not have fair rent as we pay a private landlord. The local housing allowance is set for our area for a couple in a 1 bed flat. We have a two bed flat which we moved intom BEFORE claiming anything. so the Hb pay what the local area allowance for a 1 bed flat is and then we pay the rest with other income. Landlord does not have to let anyone know wether we are smoking or no smoking or married as he is a private landlord AND NOT going through the council. smoking or non smoking has nothing to do with getting HB for private tenants - never heard of that for private tenants who rent through normal landlords (ie not taking DSS, therfore can set whatever rent the LIKE and take whatever tenants they WANT) The local councils I have called along with shelter all say the same thing, the landlord does not have to know as we are private tenants. Now maybe it's different for some who are with DSS taking landlords/council and people moving into a property when they are already getting HB. Now I can admit when Im wrong, but I can't see any links after searching that state a claimant MUST tell their landlord?? And as said, Ive been told this direct from my council (Perhaps where you are is different?) Id be interested as to where the info you posted can be found?? I'd really love to read some of it. Would you be able to post a link? ( My dad is also interested in renting one of his flats out to DSS) Thanks! :0)

by kendra26uk- 5 months ago