Quote:
Originally Posted by Taf
HB can be paid to the tenant or the landlord... it's up to the tenant... which is why so many landlords are being stiffed payments month after month until they go through an expensive legal procedure to get the defaulting tenants out.
It's common practice amongst the Czech Roma hereabouts. I know because I have known then gleefully withholding rent to spend it on booze, sporty but clapped-out cars, and widescreen TVs. They have found a way to get free accomodation for extended periods... but landlords are spreading the word amongst themselves (only to have the race card thrown at them for refusing to rent to Czech Roma).
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One East European family I am aware of that were living in Roath played that trick. (I am not sure which East European country they were from)
They were collecting benefits and moved out after owing many months of rent, he discovered they had done the same thing at their previous rented property. The landlord eventually traced them to an address in Newport, he traced the owner of the property and discovered they were 3 months behind on rent with the new landlord.
I understand from the Roath landlord that many landlords in Cardiff now have an agreement that they share this information, and once on the unofficial list there is little chance of renting a property. One of the landlords with multiple properties responsible for the list is a big guy, who does not hesitate to deal with offenders of this nature.