Five months after launch, a new lettings property portal which puts housing benefit tenants in touch with landlords and agents happy to deal with them says it has signed up 250 letting agents.
The site, which is free to agents to use, currently has some 4,000 properties listed.
Dssmove founder Aki Ellahi said both traffic and inquiries are growing. He said: “Currently there are over five million people claiming Local Housing Allowance and this is set to grow over the next two to three years as we face a tough economic period and continued austerity measures from the Government.
“Some landlords and agents are wary of letting to people on housing benefit, but we have been doing it for years through our lettings agency without problems. In many inner-city areas in the South-West, Wales, Midlands and the North-East and North-West, LHA rates are sometimes higher than the market rent.
“For example, a two-bed LHA rate in Wolverhampton is £450 and many properties are on the open market at £350-£400.
“Though some agents will not deal with the DSS market, many independents do, and some of the corporates have spotted the gap and are moving more into this market, ie Martin & Co and Northwood.
“For many landlords and agents across the UK – especially in the North – there will be no choice about accepting LHA tenants in 2013 and beyond.”
John MacAlevey, founder of Intercity Accommodation, which has recently signed up to the service, said: “I am very pleased with the inquiries so far. The site could not have been launched at a better time. In the Leeds area we have seen a huge increase in the private rented sector and a rise in demand for properties that will house LHA tenants, due to the lack of mortgage funds and the tough economic situation.
“I have been in the lettings market for over the last 25 years and have let in both the private and social housing markets. As far as I am concerned, you get the same type of problems from both types of tenants.
“If you provide all tenants with a nice, clean house and ensure there is good communication with the tenant, problems can be quickly overcome.”
For more on the subject, see today’s blog
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Comments
Thank you for pointing this out Stonehenge but the problem exists whatever the hell you call it. NO INSURANCE COVER OR AN INCREASE IN THE EXCESS FOR LHA TENANTS. Where the extra money will come from god only knows - but maybe you have a slick answer you smart a**e.
There is no "DSS" market as the "DSS" hasn't existed for years. It took ages for the "DHSS" to be decommissioned from everyday parlance, but we are still stuck with this nonsense.
Can't agents and the like stop using such outdated terms? As the article correctly states it is LHA now and has been for a while. Housing Benefit is the only other terms that should be used.