Landlords offering homes to tenants on benefits could win tax breaks or other incentives from the Welsh Government.
Housing Minister Rebecca Evans has revealed she is looking for ways to encourage private landlords to house more tenants with affordability issues.
She explained to delegates attending a housing forum in Cardiff that the Welsh Government was aware that landlords had concerns about renting to tenants on benefits because they could not afford open market rents or are more likely not pay landlords in full or on time.
“I want to find ways to eradicate the no-DSS barrier. Poverty should not be allowed to be thebasis for discrimination,” said Evans.
“I want to see the Welsh Government do more to support landlords who are willing to widen access by providing security of income, protecting against voids and losses, and ensuring support for tenants during the duration of their agreement – and helping to improve the standard of the property they are renting.”
She outlined she wanted a pact between landlords and the government to rent homes to poorer tenants in return for a package of incentives – but refused to disclose the details of how the scheme might work.
“We are currently working on an exciting proposal to make an attractive offer of this type, and it is one I want to move forward on at pace,” said Evans. “These are exciting times for housing in Wales.”
Westminster has hinted about offering tax breaks for buy to let landlords in England, but to date, no policy has been announced.
Interesting article, but I don’t think tax breaks will be enough for the DSS/Universal Credit/ Housing benefit customer, due to the poor and in many cases unjustified stigma associated with this type of customer.
Maybe they should consider bringing the rent in line with the majority of ASTs in that the rent is paid a month in advance not a month in arrears. There should be a better customer service for landlords where payments have been cancelled and landlords must be kept up to date so they have a better expectation of the system.
I agree Jacqui, but for me to let to DHSS would require yes a month in advance payment, payment to be made direct to landlord guaranteed, at present a tenant can agree to that, and the day before payment to be released, said tenant can call the council to reverse that instruction and the cheque will go to the tenant!!!! Its the Governments own made problem, all is loaded in favour of the tenant, rules brought in by Blairs crew to gain votes if I recall. No the Government made the bed, they can lie in it. DHSS tenant would need to be 100% guarantored by the Government for me to consider offering accommodation.!!!!!