If you’ve been searching for private landlords that accept DSS and no guarantor near me, this roundup of renter resources will save you time and frustration in your search.
The most recent UK Government survey found that 40% of landlords WILL accept tenants in receipt of housing benefits.
Finding these landlords can be difficult, though, because rental listings often don’t provide enough information about tenant eligibility.
Despite the affordable housing shortage in the UK, there are still some effective ways to locate landlords who accept housing benefit.
This guide tells you about the help you can get from your local council and shows you the best way to search rental websites.
Note: The Department of Social Security (DSS) ceased to exist in 2001. When “No DSS” is used in rental listings, it refers to the housing element of Universal Credit and other forms of housing benefit.
Private Landlords That Accept DSS And No Guarantor Near Me
Your local council will help you find private landlords that accept universal credit and housing benefit.
The housing team at your local council will either have their own list of DSS accepted landlords near me, or they’ll refer you to a community partner who can give you a list of estate agents that accept DSS in your area.
Councils may also provide a Discretionary Housing Payment to help eligible tenants with move-in costs.
In Oxford, for example, the Lord Mayor’s Deposit Guarantee Scheme offers eligible renters in receipt of benefits:
- A Deposit Guarantee Bond or cash payment (up to five weeks’ rent) to cover potential rent arrears or damage
- A loan for the first month’s rent (up to £775)
- A three-month county bus pass and a day’s van hire if the rental is outside the city
Your council has a statutory duty to help you find housing if:
- You’re homeless or soon to be homeless
- You’ve received a Section 21 or Section 8 eviction notice
- You’re couch-surfing
Look on your council’s website for more details or visit your local council offices to connect with their private residential sector support team.
Help To Rent Database
The Help to Rent Database is provided by Crisis, a charity that helps people out of homelessness.
Anyone can use the resources listed in the database to get help finding landlords that accept Universal Credit and Housing Benefit.
The resources in the database include contact details for housing teams, information about deposit/bond schemes, and links to organizations providing temporary accommodation and social housing.
To use the database go to the link here and search by city, county, or region.
DSS Rentals On Moving Soon
Moving Soon features listings for affordable housing, social housing, and sheltered housing.
The website’s search function lets you filter your results for DSS accepted properties.
- Go to https://movingsoon.co.uk/properties-to-rent/
- Enter your location, then click the search button
- Select your price range and number of bedrooms
- Use the “Other Features” filter to select “DSS Housing Benefit Accepted”.
If the site has any listings from landlords that accept Universal Credit in your area, you’ll see them on the results page.
DSS Rentals On Rightmove
To find private rented houses that accept DSS on Rightmove, you’ll need to use the “Add Keyword” function.
- Go to https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent.html
- Enter your search area and price range
- Click “Find properties”
- Click “Add Keyword”
- Type DSS and hit enter to save the keyword. Repeat to add Universal Credit and Housing Benefit.
DSS Rentals On OpenRent
Open Rent lets you filter rental listings for landlords that accept DSS.
- Go to https://movingsoon.co.uk/properties-to-rent/
- Enter your location
- Choose price range and number of bedrooms
- Click “Advanced Filter”
- Select “Accepts DSS Income”
- Click “Update”
DSS Rentals On Trovit
Trovit doesn’t have a DSS filter but you can use a little trick to find DSS accepted properties on the Trovit website. Follow these steps:
- Go to https://homes.trovit.co.uk/rent
- In the search box enter “DSS” followed by your town
- Check the listing descriptions for “DSS accepted” or “DSS considered”
Because you’ve added DSS to your search location, Trovit will show you every rental listing that includes the term DSS. Some listings will say No DSS, others will say DSS accepted.
Try variations of the search using Universal Credit or Housing Benefit in place of DSS.
Find Landlords That Accept DSS On Gumtree
Gumtree, the biggest and best-known classified ads platform in the UK is a great place to find private landlords that accept Universal Credit.
- Go to https://www.gumtree.com/flats-houses/property-to-rent
- Enter your location
- Type “DSS” into the search bar to see the DSS accepted properties listed on the site.
Contact Karbon Homes (North of England Only)
Karbon Homes accepts tenants on benefits. Many of their properties don’t require a security deposit or bond.
Applicants have to complete an affordability assessment to qualify.
For more details visit: https://www.karbonhomes.co.uk/find-a-home/rent-a-home/.
Join Your Local Facebook Groups
Join the local Facebook group for your town or city and the Facebook group for tenants in your area. You’ll be able to ask other members for recommendations and advice, and this local intel is an effective way to get housing leads.
Are No DSS Policies Legal?
The Renters Reform Bill includes a policy change making “No DSS” policies illegal, but the bill hasn’t become law yet.
Currently, letting agencies cannot explicitly say “No DSS” in their rental listings but they may use other language to disqualify applicants.
For example, a rental ad might say applicants must be working professionals or must meet specific affordability criteria.
You can challenge a letting agency if they won’t deal with you because you get benefits. Shelter provides more information here.
Private landlords who don’t use a letting agency aren’t regulated in the same way as letting agencies and can legally refuse to accept renters on benefits.
However, a landlord could face legal action for indirect discrimination under the Equality Act if the applicant receives benefits due to disability or being a single parent (if female).
Contact Shelter for more advice.
Next Steps
Searching for benefit-friendly landlords on your own is hard work. Your local council already has an established network of landlords and housing charities you can tap into, so think about making an appointment with the housing team.
- Get into the habit of checking rental websites several times a day.
- Apply to rent deposit and rent guarantee schemes.
- Get housing leads from fellow renters in your local Facebook group.
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Alex Graham is a co-founder and manages high-quality content that helps once evicted/ex-felons find a place to call. home. Alex believes even if he can help one person return to a good, wholesome life it is well worth the effort.