Property 118 partner Mark Alexander created a petition calling for the government to criminalise non-payment of rent and improve the eviction process in order to make specialist developments in accommodation viable.
The petition, which has gained 222 signatures since it was published in early January, argued the reason few private landlords were willing to let their properties to housing benefit claimants was because the risk of non-payment was too great: “Make it a criminal offence not to pay rent and improve the eviction process for non-payers and this will attract further investment into the sector, particularly the need for shared accommodation for single under 35s claiming benefits.
“Without these changes the housing crisis will get worse as much needed specialist developments for this type of accommodation will not be considered viable.”
Property consultant David Lawrenson, who has previously investigated lender attitudes to landlords with tenants receiving benefits, said while he was not sure there was any real evidence tenants on housing benefit were less willing to pay, he could see landlords’ frustration: “The government wants private landlords to get involved, but the proposal of universal credit prevents most tenants from asking the relevant department to pay the landlords direct.
“The vast majority of landlords are simply not interested in letting to tenants on housing benefits. Usually, it is not because of the tenant themselves but the bureaucracy sitting behind them.”
