ASA bans ad by Housing Support Line
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The Advertising Standards Authority has banned an advertisement from the Housing Support Line for being misleading.
One complainant challenged whether claims made on the website were misleading because, having used the service, she believed that Housing Support Line were unable to help people on benefits to move into private rented homes.
Another complainant challenged whether it was misleading because she believed that Housing Support Line were unable to help people on benefits to move into private rented homes.
Housing Support Line explained that once it received an initial enquiry, their search team would match the enquiry to a list of affiliates who would accept individuals on housing benefits.
It said it would then provide the customer with the names and telephone numbers of the appropriate affiliates.
It also explained that they advised customers how to obtain funding from various government and charity schemes and explained that they had received a significant amount of positive feedback from clients, but said that this had not been recorded in signed testimonials.
But the ASA considered that consumers were likely to interpret the ads to mean that Housing Support Line were able to assist people on housing benefits to move into private rented accommodation.
It considered that several lists of affiliate’s details and several testimonials, which made no reference to benefit friendly accommodation, were insufficient to demonstrate that Housing Support Line were able to help people on benefits to move into private rented accommodation.
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Readers' comments (4)
Andy | 15 Aug 2011 7:53 pm
This is exactly why I use RentDSS.com or even Gumtree instead of Housing Support Line for help with DSS Housing. DSS Properties are hard to come by as it is and the last thing you need are these sorts of difficulties.
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Anonymous | 10 Oct 2011 11:16 am
Their call charges are extortionate, which is why I hadn't called up yet. Im glad I came across this article when I did, I wont bother now. Might aswell continue using the internet and search myself. Their ad did make it seem as thought they would find the properties for you - not just give you a list of numbers.
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Anonymous | 10 Nov 2011 4:14 pm
We are landlords based on the south coast and often receive referrals from the Housing Support Line - as long as the prospective tenant has the 1st months rent and deposit along with acceptable references we will accept LHA - so far we've not had any negative feedback from users of their service
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Craig | 23 Mar 2012 9:33 am
I had been looking for a dss welcome flat for three months before i was referred to the housing support line by a friend. I had only found three agents who covered my area who were willing to accept dss tenants, now I have 40. Thank you Housing Support Line!
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