NetMovers hits out at 'cynical' agents

Controversial firm NetMovers, which charges tenants for a three-month registration, is moving into the social sector.

Tenants who use the service are charged £29.99. For that fee, they are introduced to letting agents and services such as utility swap managers.

The move into the social sector comes as Rick Jones, of NetMovers, accused letting agents of bad practice.

In a confusing press release, on which LAT sought repeated clarification, he said that cynical letting agency practices are forcing families into a spiral of deprivation.

He said that ‘recent’ changes to housing benefit – in fact, due to kick in next month – the recession and associated job losses and repossessions, plus the decimation of the first-time buyer market and threat of rising rents, is forcing some landlords who have previously accepted DSS tenants into refusing inquiries, making it more difficult for families in need to find somewhere to live.

He said of those landlords who continue to cater for DSS recipients, not all offer fair quality homes.

Jones said: “For example, it’s a common practice for some social landlords to test tenants by placing them in properties that are in need of maintenance and in bad areas. If they respect the property and pay their rent, they might eventually be offered a nicer, more suitable property in a better area – consider it a form of moving up the rental ladder.

“The trouble is that these types of properties are in locations generally notorious for crime and bad schools; sometimes the lets are unregulated – off the books – so families have nobody to run to if they find themselves at the mercy of a dodgy landlord.

“Add this to the poor state of the property, which could impact on mental and physical health, and you have a desperate situation that can be really hard to escape from.”

His comments came as NetMovers makes moves to partner with housing charities using its Relocation Service.

Jones said: “Not everyone claiming support from the DSS is a bad tenant. Via our Relocation Service, NetMovers negotiates with social landlords and private landlords alike on behalf of tenants who, through no fault of their own, receive benefits which finds them being turned down for housing from so many, when in reality the only difference is how the rent is paid.

“The industry as a whole needs to take a more open look at what’s happening in society. It’s very cynical to take the short-term view and exclude families in need.”

The NetMovers Relocation Service gives tenants subsidised access to credit checks, agent introductions and other associated services, such as managed utility switchovers, for a one-off fee of £29.99 for the three-month membership.