The government has revealed plans to end discrimination against potential tenants on housing benefits, signalling an end to landlords’ “No DSS” adverts.
Housing Minister Heather Wheeler announced on Friday that Whitehall officials will meet with mortgage providers, landlord associations, tenant groups and property websites in a bid to ban the practice.
The discrimination has seen tenants on benefits become the minority in the private rental market. Just 889,000 claimants out of 4.5 million households living in rented accommodation while half of landlords surveyed say they wouldn’t take on a tenant on benefits.
54 councils across England have been awarded funding to help them open the Private Rented Sector up to those that are homeless, giving them the opportunity to find a more permanent home and rebuild their lives #UKHousing https://t.co/Ik2iI7OPwL pic.twitter.com/cyFN0PEg9X
— Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (@luhc) March 1, 2019
Campaigners have already inspired the government to step in while also convincing NatWest to change course. The high-street bank announced that it would be axing restrictions preventing landlords on their buy-to-let mortgages from renting to would-be tenants on benefits.
The decision was made following a review of its buy-to-let policies with the bank also revealing that it will extend their maximum length of an assured shorthold tenancy from 12 to 36 months. The move aims to provide more security for tenants – and security is much needed with the loss of a private sector rented home still the leading cause of homelessness.