Housing Benefit

scorpiolady

If your in receipt of housing benefit does the rent payment go straight to the tenent to pay the rent or can you have the payment sent straight to your landlord
Thankyou

KxMx

It all depends on local policy. I believe mainly the money goes to the tenant now but some places are switching back to direct to landlord (or they are here at least).

Jowo_2

All new claims by private tenants come under Local Housing Allowance and this is always paid directly to tenants unless the council deem the tenant to be vulnerable in some way and can't manage their money. This is in contrast to Housing Benefit where the tenant could request that it be paid directly to their landlord.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/paying_for_a_home/housing_benefit_and_local_housing_allowance/local_housing_allowance#6

scorpiolady

Thanks for the replies, the tenent has just told me she has got a form to fill in to request the rent be paid straight to the landlord, which i think is a very good idea

dmg24

scorpiolady wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, the tenent has just told me she has got a form to fill in to request the rent be paid straight to the landlord, which i think is a very good idea

Jowo is correct, does your tenant have mental health problems, or have they had problems paying their rent in the past? These would be the usual grounds under which it is paid direct to the LL.

KxMx, this is not a matter of local policy, the LA cannot choose to ignore the Regs.