Guide for Landlords

Who can claim?
Tenants who are on a low income and pay rent are eligible to claim Housing Benefit.
The amount of benefit that a tenant is entitled to depends on their income, savings and household composition.

What does Housing Benefit cover?
The Local Housing Allowance is a new way of calculating Housing Benefit and will affect private sector tenants who make a new benefit application, change address or have a break in claim. It is a much fairer way of calculating Housing Benefit as it ensures that tenants in similar circumstances in the same area receive the same amount of financial support for their housing costs. The amount is determined by the bedroom requirement of the composition of the tenant’s household. However, it will not affect:
• Tenants in registered social landlord properties
• Tenants who are in supported housing provided by certain local authorities, social landlords, charities, and voluntary organisations where the landlord is responsible for providing the care, support or supervision
• Tenants whose tenancies started before 15 January 1989.
• Exceptional tenancies on properties such as:
• Hostels
• Caravans
• Mobile homes
• Houseboats
• Tents
• Temporary Bed and Breakfast accommodation

How to claim Housing Benefit
Your tenant should apply for Housing Benefit without delay. Housing Benefit is usually payable from the Monday following receipt of the application form. If a claim is made in the same week that the tenant moves in we will be able to pay from the date of occupation.

Proof of rent
The claim cannot be paid until we have proof of your tenant's rental agreement. We will need to see the original rent book or tenancy agreement, which must be completed in full. Photocopies are not acceptable.

Discussing the claim
We cannot discuss any details about your tenant's claim with you without written authorisation from your tenant. We cannot even confirm if a claim has been made.

How is benefit paid?
The payment will normally be made to your tenant straight to his/her bank or building society account or by cheque. Payment is not normally made to the landlord. If your tenant does not already have a bank or building society account, you may want to help him/her to set one up, so that they can arrange to pay the rent to you automatically using a standing order.
If your tenant is more than 8 weeks in arrears we can pay you without the tenant's agreement, but you must provide proof of these arrears first.

Changes in Circumstances
It is your tenant's responsibility to let us know if they have any changes in their circumstances but if you are aware of any you should tell us too. This includes:
• Change of address
• Starting or finishing work
• Someone moving in or out of the tenant's home
• Change in rent
Any delay in telling us about changes may mean that too much benefit will be paid. This is called an overpayment. Most overpayments are recoverable and we will collect the money back from the person to whom the benefit was paid.

Landlord Forums and Newsletters
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