Using a vehicle as a ‘deposit’?

I'm not trying to be confrontational and I have great admiration for what you do but you and Mick are victims of your own making (Rob's reasons are more altruistic).

I can’t put rents up too much or take a deposit because along with the first month’s rent, it is too much for the local folk to raise.

If you weren't there, they would have to, as "posh DSS only" landlords like me, wouldn't take them on otherwise.

I wish the Council would follow through with the threat of refusing to assist persons who have made themselves homeless, particularly through non-payment of rent. If they messed up and knew they had nowhere else to turn, they might think twice about causing havoc.

Councils/ Government would have to do some radical changes if landlords like you and Mick weren't there, it is all part of the problem. Tenants would be forced to think twice about causing havoc if no (legal) landlord whatsoever would take them on.

Sorry, gone off topic with a very interesting thread.

Luke, do you accept any tenants without a guarantor? I find that most of my potential tenants, particularly the single people applying for a room in a HMO, do not have a guarantor. In this situation would you simply decline the application, and wait for someone to apply who does have a homeowner guarantor?

Well yes Monty, fair point. But I suppose I’ve had to make a living, so I am here.
And maybe for only 20 30 quality years, so han’t got ruddy time for the Govt to do some Radical changes.

But I do think, as much as I try & hope, certain people, a so many segment of society, so many hundred thousand, don’t change.

Some tenants don’t think of next week, next month, next year.

Please tell me Poss DSS, because I want to be leaning that way, now I’ve been doing this job about 18 years.

Yes me too Rob, is listening to Luke Guarantor, ALTHOUGH if it takes 50% of time chasing ‘em up, free time is something I want more of going forwards.

Reply to the comment left by "Mick Roberts" at "25/06/2015 - 07:26":

"Please tell me Posh DSS"

Making wild discriminatory generalisations here but "Posh DSS" is what I call the better end of benefits tenants.

Probably the opposite end of tenants you take on.

They have home owning, full time working guarantors- usually parents or ex husband. Middle class, well educated, articulate, no facial piercings or tatoos, never done drugs (IIRC, you said all of your tenants smoked dope), non smokers, pet owners (one golden Labrador or a hamster, not a pack of staffy pit bulls), willing and able to pay a deposit, rent in advance and a top-up, no adverse credit, traceable history, decent car, one or two kids from the same stable ex partner, were once in full time employment, often working part time or on benefits only for genuine 'daily mail' type reasons, none of their friends or relations are on benefits.

They often make better tenants than 'working professionals', stay longer and look after the property.

Some nasty, sweeping generalisations there just to make the point but most 'posh' landlords won't touch any DSS whatsoever, I get to pick and choose the cream. About 20% of my tenants are on benefits.

Hi Monty, I seem to recall that we work in a similar geographical area, so I guess I must get all your rejected applicants!

Monty,

Whilst there are different 'classes' of HB tenants where I am based, none of them quite reach the dizzying heights of 'posh DSS'. We have the complete feral scum (who I avoid) but even the best of benefit tenants here.

It's a very unique place is Grimsby -there are no students, we are very geographically and infrastructurally isolated, there are no professional (lets), no apartments, or fancy open-plan flats, just those that can afford to buy and those that are on benefit. 70% of the population earn less than £15k.

Whilst I can be picky to a certain degree, the best I can hope for doesn't quite fit your posh DSS list :/

Yes, I do have some not great tenants, but if posh is 10/10, & terrible is 1/10, some of mine are 10/10 at start. Or I aim for 10, sometimes get maybe 5.
I do try to avoid the opposite end of posh.

Gees, u have some criteria there, I’d love to get all that. I think in maybe the parts of Nottingham I deal with, I would struggle with DSS tenant that had all them qualities, if they just have the car, they normally at the top end of the scale for me.
But good points in there, something to look towards the future.

I suppose really I’d have to do the house right up for these people I reckon, & I’m probably in a circle where last tenant wrecked it, it don’t matter if next tenant wrecks it. ie. they move in poor decor etc. And don’t mind & want to do it their way.

Ha ha Rob, yes the rejected applicants must be coming my way.

Grimsby looks a good place for HB.

Grimsby is a great place to invest...if you can handle the clientele. I'm a bit like that now, Mick...the previous tenant didn't look after it all that well, the new wont is unlikely to either so I just don't bother with tidying them up very much now.

Reply to the comment left by "Monty Bodkin" at "25/06/2015 - 09:58":

"never done drugs" - How on earth do you know that?