Sharon

Thank you, that's very helpful... Read More

This is helpful as I was considering a tiny investment (around 2%) with a friend's proposed purchase to slightly reduce hi borrowing. I am concerned at whether I would be called upon to additionally fund any 'work', especially anything unexpected that crops up so would appreciate if you think this could be covered in the Deed of Trust?... Read More

My stepson, going into 3rd year uni into normal PRS house (not student let) paid deposit (with 4 others) in July, special deal to pay half rent July & August if not occupied, moved in last week but LL & Agent have agreed to he (and others) paying in 3 instalments with student loan, not due til late September. Dad is guarantor but that has not come into play, S/son, LL & agent happy :-)... Read More

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I think that's absolutely the right thing to do. The fact is though that even though you somehow managed to e mail the Case Manager direct (love to know how?), the CM had no authority to reply to you. This will only be sorted out at the highest level. I am so sorry to hear that this is affecting your health... Read More

Good point well made, lol. However many claimants are only too happy to have the LL paid direct, in my experience on UC currently but of course it's not nationwide just yet.... Read More

Hi June, in some circumstances DWP can set up an APA and pay LL direct without asking claimant/tenant. It's quite difficult though if claimant actually refuses once they are aware. The reason to act without asking claimant is under 'keeping a roof over their heads' but I'll take forward finding out a bit more. Would you have any objection to passing the UC47 to your tenant to take to JC? Not sure whether it's 'supposed' to happen but just as long as nothing precludes it, it would be safely transmitted. The UC47 would then be scanned & uploaded onto the account by the Jobcentre. Again, I'll make some enquiries.... Read More

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Hi Robert, Mick and Colin. I feel your pain, I really do. My team are on the receiving end of the claimants when they are on telephony duty (and that's a whole other story...) and can promise you MY site in the SE of the UK is known everywhere (including the Facebook UC Claimant Forums) as delivering a good service, however would never claim to be perfect.
Just one comment on the DPA type issues-the government are absolutely petrified of data loss and have thousands of attempts daily on their systems so the risk is massive to them. I will try to find out about the UC47 'black hole' though.
If anyone can think how we can have this conversation off-line that would help me?
I am on Facebook with the same name and photo. Maybe I shall get some new friend requests, even from one of you?
I won't break this site's rules or Civil service rules because I do need my job (someone sacked just this week for breaching Social Media Policy rules) but let's see whether we can find a way. Over to you more experienced folk on this site.
Please, please remember that I can't comment here on anything other than general info, even though some of that may be of use to use.
Off to check my FB now!... Read More

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Hi, I've been a member here for a year or 2 (aspiring to be a landlord) but was browsing last night as last time I looked there was very little on the site regarding Universal Credit (UC), which I found surprising.
I know the site does not permit direct contact between us and it is more than my job is worth to openly comment about specific cases but I can certainly help with general information and scenarios.
To explain, Team leaders are 'hands on' with our staff but they (called Case Managers, CM for short) are actually the experts so they have knowledge & some authority/autonomy, I have less knowledge/more authority & so on up the chain.
Leave your enquiries with me and I'll ask the relevant questions and come back to you regarding the forms, e mails etc, but the answer will actually be a version of 'those are the rules'! Also, DWP will rely on DPA as all internal communications are via a 'gsi' e mail address. Info permitted to be sent 'outside gsi' is extremely limited and unlikely to widen in the near future.
If you consider the Government's steer/wish/aspiration (you can choose) around UC, it is about claimants driving the claims & not DWP. Therefore, there is an expectation that the claimant will deal with everything and I honestly don't think UC planners anticipated the level of complexity of the housing journey to some claimants. It is an 'Agile' system that is not fully formed so there is every reason to believe that it will improve-change happens very rapidly.
The housing journey is actually under close scrutiny and I would encourage you (and others) to take the opportunity to comment on the UC & Benefit Cap Enquiries (time running out) being carried out by the Work & Pensions select Committee. Larger Social Landlords are already involved in giving evidence to the Public Accounts Committee UC reviews & make interesting reading if you can spare the time.
I don't know whether I'm allowed to post direct links but you will find these on www.parliament.uk
I guess I may be considered 'brave' but I consider that I have integrity and open-ness in my life, including at work. This is my 'view from the bridge' of how it really is, without divulging anything I'm not allowed to. DWP does run events for Landlords in every area where UC Full Service rolls out but the take up is low to non-existent. Our office does have the 'ear' of someone involved in this and also in the events, so I wonder if, for example, they are advertising events in the right places or holding them at convenient times-maybe you could let me know on that and I will gladly pass it on.... Read More

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Hi. I work in welfare benefits. First a word of caution-continuing entitlement to disability related benefit depends entirely on effect/impact and not condition. For example, something getting worse that is halted or improved by a procedure or treatment, if significant, could change entitlement or remove altogether.
On the other hand, disability related is on the whole the most 'stable' of benefits as (unlike JSA) you will not have the tenant in and out of work which can be a nightmare for housing benefit.
The prospective tenant can ask for a pre-tenancy determination, be sure to include the impact of the son's income too to be sure of effect.
Also check that it's not Universal Credit or LHA rather than HB, although pre-tenancy determination should be available for LHA. Not sure yet about UC.
Hope that helps... Read More

Thank you to everyone for the helpful and experienced comments which I shall pass on to my friends. I think the legal assistance angle on their own policy (or maybe via their Union if they are in one) is a useful and interesting angle.

I do feel sure that a lot of the problem is due to the inexperience of the Landlady and also they can't be sure how much the agent is passing on to the Landlady. Coupled with the fact that it was the L/L home so she thinks it's perfect (she moved geographically for work reasons and let instead of selling). The agent's actions all seem to be driven by not upsetting their client but not helping the tenant.

Thank you again

The L/L has appointed 'someone' to fix a few issues and seems to be claiming on her insurance policy, however the 'operative' phoned my friend and asked her 'how much are you looking for' in terms of the insurance claim. He was told that they want repair etc & they are not policyholders & he just wanted to give an estimate by telephone without even visiting.... Read More

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I have some experience of conducting Evidence of Identity interviews for NI Number applications and even with equipment it's not easy. On a passport look particularly to see whether the photo has been substituted (cut out & replaced). Under a UV light the stitching should fluoresce. Check for consecutive pages (none removed), watermarks etc. ID cards will often be produced by EU citizens and they are the biggest source of fraud, mainly due to stolen 'blanks', and virtually impossible to spot... Read More

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