A WEYMOUTH landlord is calling for urgent changes to be made to housing laws to stop the ‘mass exodus’ of refusals to take social housing tenants.

Steve Vitali, who owns 13 private homes in the Weymouth area, said that changes made to the social housing laws have made landlords in the area ‘out of pocket to the tune of thousands of pounds’.

He has been campaigning for change to South Dorset MP Jim Knight since the alterations made to Local Housing Allowance in April 2008 meant that the rent is now paid directly to tenants and not to the landlords.

He is also hitting out at advice given out by both Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and West Dorset District Council advising tenants overdue on their rent to stay in the property until they are evicted.

Mr Vitali said: “In my opinion unless the rules surrounding housing benefit payments are not changed very shortly then local councils are going to be inundated with individuals and families unable to find suitable accommodation.

“It’s just heart-rending – I get people on the phone pleading with me for a home – it’s a real catch 22 situation.

“I’ve got a point where I point-blank refuse to accept the social housing tenants because some of the tenants give them all a bad name – and these changes to how the rent is paid have made everything worse.

“It’s not just me that feels like this either – at a recent meeting of the Weymouth and District landlords everyone was saying they’ve had enough – it’s like a mass exodus.”

Mr Knight said he is currently looking into the issues raised by Mr Vitali and that the Department for Work and Pensions is undertaking a review of the situation, which will be published in August.

He said: “Changes were made to the method of payment to make it easier for tenants moving into private accommodation because they could get used to judging their finances.”

A spokesman for West Dorset District Council said: “The way that housing benefits are paid was recently changed by the Government.

“The district council is aware of the issues raised and what this causes for private landlords and does its best to act within the national system.”

She added: “The council will always seek to prevent households from becoming homeless.

“This may involve negotiating with landlords.

“Any household that may be facing eviction should contact the council at the earliest opportunity in order that all options can be explored.

“Landlords must follow prescribed procedures to secure possession of tenanted property.”