Letter: Both universal credit and benefit agencies should take some of the blame

So many people complain that private landlords are being unfair because they refuse to rent to those receiving universal credit/ benefits. Well, I would like to put forward the reason for this from a landlord's perspective, as the following example shows.

A relative of ours rented their property to a tenant receiving these benefits… nothing wrong with that because, understandably, there are circumstances which often necessitate these payments. However, when they are dishonest and renege on paying the rent which, (no excuses), is what the universal credit is for, then action has to be taken.

Previously, the rent was always paid directly to the landlord by the housing benefits office which, guaranteed the rent being paid. This then changed whereby the tenant was given the autonomy to manage the money given by universal credit and they themselves pay the rent. In many cases this has proved to be an economical disaster for many landlords and causing hardship for them and also, even more difficult to evict the tenant.

In this particular case, the tenant's non payment of rent is running into thousands, almost two thousand to be exact. Appeals were made to the department for universal credit, to intercept payments to the tenant so it could be paid directly to the landlord. They advised the landlord to fill in form 47 and email it to them which, was duly done. The result? The tenant has received the payment and again not paid the rent… which(ibid) is what universal credit is for and not for the tenant to pocket.

Notice has been served on the tenant via a section 8 and this is also being ignored and on informing the universal credit department of this, their response was that the landlord had to wait because it may well have to go to court. This is so unfair on the landlord, who is working and having to struggle financially every month because of a tenant who won't pay the rent and also running a business from the property. Where is the justice in that?

The tenant continues to make excuses and throws out expletives that the rent won't be paid because, eg; the house is not fit for purpose and so on, all of which is completely untrue. Unlike council properties, any work needing attention, has promptly been carried out and some damage to the property has been incurred by the tenant.

If the locks were to be changed then the landlord would be be arrested. Crazy or what? Using the service of a bailiff is an expensive option but..., the landlord may well have to consider this option because the debt is mounting and despite following the legal route, as per advice from the universal credit department, they are doing absolutely nothing to help the landlord to secure rent from the tenant and I doubt whether they will reimburse the landlord with the amount owed and yet, they are aware that the tenant is pocketing the money.

The system stinks, so please, all those who complain about landlords not renting to those on this benefit, think about the landlord 's dilemma and the hardship they have to incur when rent is not paid.

Both universal credit and benefit agencies should take some of the blame and responsibility for allowing tenants to carry on living in properties and refusing to pay rent.

Tenants like these spoil it for others.