Metro Bank backtrack on “No DSS” ban after government meeting

My guess is that Government have told Metro Bank, knowing Section 21 removal is a done-deal (what the lender of a repossession would also rely on), they will create new legislation allowing them possession of a property that's been repossessed.

That allows them to continue their LL-bashing without upsetting their banking friends and removes any 'convenient' 'excuse' to "No DSS" from LLs when challenged by Shelter.

It also explains why banks appear virtually silent on the fact that Section 21 is 'under threat' (it's definitely going as far as Government is concerned).

"Regardless of financial circumstances, everyone should have the same opportunity when looking for a home" says Heather Wheeler. Will that also apply to social housing, mortgages, credit cards or all the other things in life which are only available subject to satisfactory "financial circumstances". This statement is totally unrealistic. As Seething Landlord pointed out recently, the government's own How to Rent booklet advises tenants to go for rentals which cost no more than around 30% of their net income. When benefits match market rents then benefit claimants will stand a chance of competing with those who pay rent out of earnings. Until then landlords facing ever-increasing costs cannot afford to rent to those on benefits so it is a waste of everyone's time to go through the motions of viewing, interviewing and credit checking people who cannot afford the rent. The anticipated removal of Section 21 only makes prudent landlords even more risk averse.

Reply to the comment left by ameliahartman at 12/06/2019 - 03:11Now you're starting to sound like a landlord who lives in the same world as the rest of us here. If you now recognise that the blame for benefit recipients finding it difficult to secure PRS accommodation does not lie with landlords but with government policy, it is hard to understand why you support Shelter's wholesale castigation of landlords as "morally bankrupt" for no longer being able to take on tenants who are benefit dependent. (By the way, I speak as the landlord of a couple on benefits whose rent we have been unable to increase since they moved in eleven years ago, which in real terms means a 40% reduction, whilst service charges, insurance etc. have increased by more than that percentage.)

And what about the insurance excess for DSS as compared to working tenants? Is the gov going to "talk" to the insurance companies too?

How about paying housing benefit one month in advance so this matches my mortgage payment ? Or alternatively perhaps “talking” to mortgage lenders so my mortgage payment can be paid 5 weeks in arrears to match Universal Credit payments ?

Just side stepping, I no longer take on Self-Employed builders either, my last tenant was a self employed painter and decorator and made my place look like builders yard, with his many different size ladders, including a very long double ladder that ruined my door frames as he tries to negotiate tight bends when taking out or bringing in his ladders, his upteen number of paint tubs, both new and half used and many empty paint drums lie all over the place, garden shed id full of his stuff like dirt sheets, brushes, rollers, paint trays, sandpaper rolls, screws and what not, bags of filler, sand and cement bags, same again in my cellar, half full with his stuff including heavy digging implements, he was recently evicted for failing to pay his rent on time and being in massive rent arrears, I am now waiting for the bailiffs to officially evict him, but he is otherwise gone to a new place, having surrendered me his keys, but he still has got to collect nearly a skip full of tools and things for his trade. All he was renting from me was one room! But he nearly took the whole damn house!
Next time SORRY NO SELF EMPLOYED BUILDERS, OK to take fully employed builders or contractors, but certainly no more self employed builders. They do screw up your property for sure.

Not to mention what happens when your rent also includes the bills, so he brings dirty paint brushes, rollers and uses tons of water paid for by me, brings dirt sheets and hoses them down at my expense, and all for what? for £400pcm including bills for two adults, him and his partner! In London you won't get a box room for that for two! And now I much rather not rent my house to anyone die to stupid rules being churned up against landlords. I will keep it empty or use it for my own use.

I am more than happy to compromise "Benefit tenants welcome when the DWP pays the full rent in advance direct to the landlord".