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At Your Move, we often come into contact with struggling tenants who are looking for houses owned by DSS friendly landlords, and we thought it would be helpful to highlight our top tips for those in this situation.
What is DSS?
DSS stands for Department of Social Security (which is now part of the Department of Work and Pensions), which put simply, means anyone that is on government benefits such as Housing Benefit or Universal Credit. Often rental properties are advertised as ‘No DSS’ which indicates that the landlord does not want to rent out their property to anyone who receives these benefits.
If you are a DSS tenant and can’t find a suitable property, here are our five top tips to help you on your journey:
Tip 1 – Don’t Panic
It is important that you keep calm when looking for your next home because it means you can assess the current situation and make the right decisions. If you are feeling worried, and can’t figure out where to go next in the rental process, our rental Frequently Asked Questions might be able to provide you with some much-wanted answers.
Tip 2 – Gather References
A good tip is to think about your previous rental experiences. Have you always paid rent on time? Did you have a good relationship with your previous landlords? If you ask your old landlord to write a glowing recommendation about you as a tenant, you could better your chances of finding houses that accept DSS.
Tip 3 – Find a guarantor
This may go without saying but it is worth reminding you that if you can find a reliable guarantor, your chances of being accepted to rent a property significantly increase. It needs to be someone (either a close family member or friend) who has a regular income, and can prove through their outgoings that they will be ready to pay your rent if you can’t.
Tip 4 – Pay rent in advance
It might be that you can get through the referencing stage of your tenant application if you are willing to pay a couple of month’s rent in advance. The landlord will potentially be more open to accepting you as a tenant if they have some of your rent already safe in the bank.
Tip 5 – Get the right agent to help you
Some agents just don’t accept the applications of those looking for houses or flats that accept DSS. At Your Move however, we consider DSS tenants and leave the final decision up to the landlord. We understand that every tenant’s situation is different and because of our nationwide presence, we have access to lots of properties, meaning as soon as they come onto the market, our local experts can let any tenants know about suitable properties that are perfect for their individual circumstances.
If you’re looking for a property that accepts DSS, contact your local branch who could help you find your next home.
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