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Access to accommodation in the private rented sector can be a real problem for some would-be tenants.

[1] Phone calls to landlords that did not specify such a bar found as few as one in six landlords willing to accept a housing benefit claimant as a tenant.

This situation has been worsened by new rules which mean that tenants can no longer opt to have their housing benefit paid directly to their landlord. In response, some landlords have stopped letting to housing benefit claimants, because they are afraid these tenants will fall behind with the rent. 

The imbalanced tenant-landlord relationship

Access can also be problematic for those tenants who do not have a good credit history or those who have difficulty providing references to support their tenancy application. Such tenants may find themselves excluded from the private rented sector on the basis that they will not make 'good tenants'.

Conversely, there is no requirement for private landlords to prove their track record as a competent landlord. Over 60 per cent of private landlords do not have any relevant experience or qualifications when it comes to letting property. [2]

Shelter's view

Shelter believes that more must be done to improve the choice of accommodation for private renters on low incomes. 

We call on the Government to:

• Restore choice to tenants about whether to have local housing allowance paid directly to their landlord.
• Provide tenancy sustainment services in every local authority to support landlords and to help prevent problems leading to eviction, such as antisocial behaviour and rent arrears. 

[1] Reynolds, L., The path to success? Shelter's research on housing benefit reform: the final report, Shelter 2006.

[2] English House Condition Survey 2006: Private Landlords Survey, CLG 2008.