Claiming HB/CTB do I have to tell my landlords

luminated

For the first time in my life I have just filled in the local authority HB/CTB claim form. In the middle it says if I don't want the LA to contact my landlord don't sign & date the section. Yet at the end of the form is a two side page called 'Rent Proof' form for my landlords to complete.

So does this mean the LA will expect to contact the LL. I really don't want this as the LL is a friend of several of my neighbours who I've got to know and my LL can't be relied upon to be very discreet.

Help please

coffeelover65

You'll need to submit your rent book if you have one showing your rent is up to date, otherwise proof of your bank statements showing regular payments from your account to your landlords account.

luminated

No rent book but we have a Tenancy Agreement and can provide as many months of bank statements to show our rent has always been paid on times for several years since we've lived here.

Mersey_2

No, you don't have to inform your landlord and a a private tenant (I assume), I doubt your local authority will either. They'll pay the LHA/HB direct to yourself.

luminated

Mersey wrote: »

No, you don't have to inform your landlord and a a private tenant (I assume), I doubt your local authority will either. They'll pay the LHA/HB direct to yourself.

Yes private landlord not LA or HAssoc

[Deleted User]

in my experience is that they may want to contact your LL

princessdon

My BTL insurance asks if tenants are HB claimants - so it "may" affect their insurance. As a LL I'd rather know and wouldn't be happy if deceived, especially if normal practise is no HB.

A tenant I knew and trust would not be an issue, but if I felt there was deception it would alter the way I felt about them.

real1314

In my experience, insurance asks if tenants have been "placed" by a local authority, which is quite different.

Having just looked at Direct Line's basic terms I found this:-
"At least one of the individuals who have signed the tenancy agreement must be either employed, retired or in receipt of a disability benefit at the point of signing the tenancy agreement."

Which means that when the tenancy started these things must have applied, but not at any later date or when the insurance was taken out.

I doubt that the regulator would allow insurance to be invalidated due to a change that a LL cannot readily know of. :cool:

princessdon

real1314 wrote: »

In my experience, insurance asks if tenants have been "placed" by a local authority, which is quite different.

Having just looked at Direct Line's basic terms I found this:-
"At least one of the individuals who have signed the tenancy agreement must be either employed, retired or in receipt of a disability benefit at the point of signing the tenancy agreement."

Which means that when the tenancy started these things must have applied, but not at any later date or when the insurance was taken out.

I doubt that the regulator would allow insurance to be invalidated due to a change that a LL cannot readily know of. :cool:

I have different excess for hb tenants - what if any impact mid agreement I don't know, but I'd rather ring and ask. If I don't know, I'd be jeopardising my buildings insurance.

luminated

Thanks all for your help. I will ring the LA and ask. In my case my income, with our two state pensions & two small occupational pensions, covers our current rent by some margin. But because I get DLA HRM & MRC there could be a small amount of HB/CTB to which I am entitled.

luminated

Spoke to LA Housing Dept who confirm they do not need to make contact with the LL in my case as all looks straightforward. The impression I got was if anything looked dodgy, regarding the set up/Tenancy Agreement, they could change their mind.