Updating post from Reddit.
Happy Friday Everyone,
I took over management of a property with tenants inside who are receiving universal credit. Of course they immediately stopped paying. I know the usual process to apply to have the benefits paid directly to the landlord requires their date of birth but unfortunately the previous manager hasn’t passed on the tenant’s ID or referencing documents.
Is there anyway to get the rent paid directly to us without knowing the DOB? Failing that, any way to find the DOB with only their name and address?
Thank you.
The tenant would still have to approve the direct payment request so there's no way of doing this without the tenant finding out. Speak to the tenant about direct payments, get them to agree and provide DOB. Otherwise Section 21 to start and then Section 8 when arrears go to two months.
I don't believe that is always the case. My tenant was 2 arrears we submitted the proof and we got paid directly. They certainly did not like it.
They would have to approve even if they’re in six months of arrears?
Yes depending on the option you select either they will be notified or DWP won't take any action. I had a similar situation a while back, the system isn't what it used to be. If this has been going on for 6 months first thing is to serve a Section 8, hopefully that will scare them into some constructive dialogue. If that doesn't faze them then you won't get anything out of them until bailiffs show up - they probably want to be evicted in order to secure council housing.
Get the section 8 ready and posted before Christmas to avoid delays in service times.
they probably want to be evicted in order to secure council housing.
I believe most Council housing schemes will not accept an application from tenants who have arrears of more than 2 months unless they have a payment plan in place and are actually doing something actively about the arrears. (Quite reassuring to know that fraudulent tenants don't get away with everything..... yes, I class it as fraud if they are getting rent from UC and not passing the money over for rent.)
It's fraud and you're right. But the council don't care and they give them houses. The system's fucked. I had a tenant recently that formally declared herself bankrupt to get out of paying her arrears. She moved out a month ago to council housing. The council fucking rehoused her when we weren't even evicting. She left two months' arrears behind.
Sorry to hear of your situation.
Two months of arrears is what the Council takes as the maximum a tenant is allowed to defraud on, and it's almost like two months of arrears is regarded as an "expected" cost to the landlord. Looks like your tenant knew what to do to get the most for herself --- leaving only two months of arrears and applying for Council housing.
No point being bitter over it. We just learn from our poor experience with bad tenants.
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Done, awaiting order of possession hearing.
What do you mean, 'of course'? Tons of people are on UC and pay on time, in full, always.
I doubt it, but just get on phone and talk to them. You could also contact Local Authority, making them know the final destination is Section 8 or Section 21 eviction.
You cant get on the phone to previous manager and press them for the information?
I guess you could do some data mineing, are they on https://www.192.com/ for example.
UC his handled by DWP, not by the local authority, so your chances of getting anywhere by contacting LA about their UC are nil. DWP to have contact telephone numbers but getting any info out of them, or getting them to take direct payment requests over the phone, chances are slim-to-none without the tenant present.
Conversation may be better had with the tenants themselves. It's their home they're risking, after all!
Pretty sure giving out personal information like this would be a breach of data protection.
Thank you for replying. Tenant is refusing all contact, previous manager and landlord are the same person with two companies, going through bankruptcy and is also refusing all contact. Section 21 has expired and we’re awaiting the order of possession hearing but the arrears are stacking and I doubt she cares about getting CCJed
You could also contact Local Authority
If tenants have applied for Council housing, the Local Authority will probably be getting in contact with their landlord to ask about their housing situation. Give all the facts to the LA, and make sure you update the LA every few weeks.
Have you been given any paperwork that came with the original tenancy? There should have been some identity checks which show their birthdate.
Just the AST. No compliance certs, referencing, nothing.
Sorry to hear that you've not got all the paperwork.
Now that you've started the Order of Possession, if you'd like to give them a chance, you could try to write to your tenants to offer to settle before the court hearing. If they genuinely want to stay, they could actively work on their arrears and communication but make sure it's not just talk --- they need to put in effort and prove it. Many errant tenants are dishonest talkers.
Start getting your documents for the Court hearing, ready. All communication you have now with the tenants should be on email too. Anything not on email, put it down on email after the meeting/call.