DSS Landlord Insurance

This type of cover is an important part of any DSS landlord policy as it will protect your income if a tenant stops paying rent.

While not always a standard feature, it can be added to your policy and is often referred to as Rent Guarantee Insurance, so it is important for you to understand if this is covered within your policy.

Housing Benefit is a means-tested benefit that helps people on low incomes or who are unemployed to pay their rent.

Universal Credit is a single monthly payment that has replaced several benefits, including Housing Benefit, for most working-age people.

A tenant may receive their housing costs as part of their Universal Credit payment and they are responsible for paying the rent directly to their landlord.

Recent court rulings have established that blanket bans on tenants who receive benefits are considered discriminatory and unlawful in the UK.

This is considered to be indirect discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, as it disproportionately affects women and disabled people who are more likely to be in receipt of benefits.

Landlords should therefore assess each tenant individually and should not include ‘no DSS’ language in advertisements about their properties.

Yes it is, as the term “DSS tenant” refers to anyone who is receiving any financial support from the government to help with their housing costs.

This includes tenants who are working but require a top-up of benefits like Universal Credit or Housing Benefit to help cover their rental payments.

You must inform your insurance provider immediately if your tenant’s circumstances change and they begin receiving benefits.

Your standard landlord insurance policy may become invalid if you fail to do so, as many policies do not offer cover for tenants that are receiving benefits.

A specialist DSS landlord insurance policy will cover your property regardless of your tenants’ circumstances.