Not any more - if you are on Universal Credit, you get your rent paid to you as well "so that it teaches people how to manage their money". Yeah manage it away on fags, booze, bookies, Sky TV and huge mobile costs! Potentially, anyway.
Unfortunately there are people out there who live chaotic lives / play the system who live up to your characterisation. There are a few on here (about 5) who will refute this absolute reality, but they also believe that everyone of the thousand boat migrants per day are doctors and engineers fleeing terror from the French coast.
But here’s the thing; private landlords used to give tenants on benefits a fair crack - the rent cheque was guaranteed if it went direct.
Now, try to getting decent private rental accommodation in a decent area whilst on benefits? Landlords will employment check / credit check and are more prone to turn down claimants.
The result? Integration between have and have nots or ghettoisation? It’s the latter.
The solution? Back to landlord housing benefit payments with new annual landlord certificates of inspection (think car MOT) whatever the status of the tenants. It’s in place for boilers anyway, just extend the process for electrics, damp, insulation etc.
If a benefit claimant complains to council about private landlord, council withholds rent until proof of remediation. Private renter can do same and have right to withhold without fear or eviction.
There would be some problems, but it’s a better solution than segregating society. Unemployed claimants have a better chance of getting a job with an Earlsdon address than a Wood End address (no offence to Wood End folks) children from less well off backgrounds should be able to school with better off. Try getting a rental in Earlsdon as an unemployed single parent? Not happening.
You know I’m right.
www.independent.co.uk
www.actiononemptyhomes.org
