Can you get housing benefits paid to you directly rather than to the landlord?

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there
When we were looking to rent our house out we couldnt believe how many people who were interested were sooo suprised that we were fine with anyone on benefits applying.
I have been on the other side and know how it is...but i have alway thought that once the council have sorted out the payment (and yes they do take a while dont they) then in actual fact a lot of the time it is soo much easier as a landlord, because every month as regular as clockwork the payment would go straight into our account from the council and any arrears built up whilst they proccessed it would be paid in full..
I would like to think that if they know that your housing benefit is going to go straight to them then they should be fine..
hope you find somewhere nice..with a landlord that appretiates that many of us have been there too!!!!
jill

Elle00

Hi Mia,

I think keeping it quiet only works if you are already in a place and then claim during your tenancy. As others have said, agents often check and even private landlords may ask you to sign to state you've declared a true income. However it may be possible to side-step this by declaring HB as part of your income as that would be a legal grey area!

Also remember a tenancy officer would have to assess your rented property to ensure the rent charged is at market value and you're not guaranteed they'd pay full rent, if at all, if they found the property to be unsuitable.

In your situation I rang all the local estate agents and asked if any would accept housing benefit until one found me a landlord of a 2 bed flat they knew personally who's a nice guy by nature. I've been here a year now without a single inspection even! He's even let me have my cats here providing I replace the carpets when I move out (eek).

Plan ahead I say and start making inquiries with local agents. BTW I know this isn't the point of the thread but as a single Mum I have to give you a heap of credit for returning to uni with a child in tow. People that haven't been through it or have but had a lot of family to depend on for childcare etc don't appreciate how hard it can be to make something of yourself so I applaud you

Morglin

minimadtrix wrote: »

Landlord insurance is different - I think they must believe that anyone on benefits is the scum of the earth and likely to leave causing serious damage (this is my opinion of insurers, please don't quote me on this!)

We rented out a property once to a very pleasant, clean single mum - best tenant we ever had - but we struggled to get landlord insurance.

It's the same with Buy To Let Mortgages.

I didn't realise that, and bearing in mind that the law says all must be treated equally, I would have thought it was discrimination by the insurers etc.,

People are on benefits for a variety of reasons, and to class them all in one ill judged bracket is wrong.:rolleyes:

I did wonder why so many landlords specify they won't take DWP claimants, as they are more likely to get the rent on time once the HB is sorted.

Thanks for the info, anyway.

Lin

Chrysalis

Scarlett1 wrote: »

Mia my housing benefit took 2 days off 8 weeks to come through so be prepared to have a couple of months rent up front, also, if any time that a housing benefit payment is overpaid they now go straight to the landlord for recovery, so I dont know where you would stand there if you werent honest with your landlord, not saying you will be overpaid but just making you aware

Not sure about that in my case they seem to have not contacted the landlord, I had an overpayment and they dealt with me and it was paid back at £8 a week out of future payments.

MiaWallace_2

Thank you all for your comments and advice. Especially Elle83, your comment about me being a lone parent going to uni made me feel very proud.

Hapless_2

didn't realise that, and bearing in mind that the law says all must be treated equally, I would have thought it was discrimination by the insurers etc.,

Yup and private landlords and letting agents are NOT covered by the DDA either.

minimadtrix

Just as another thought. If you are looking for a new place to rent and are going to want help with the rent through HB, our council offer a 'rent assist' system, which means they also pay for the first month up front and also put up what they call a 'paper bond.' The tenant then has to pay the month up front back over 18 months. The landlord would then deal with the council if there are any problems at the end of the tenancy agreement through the paper bond.

However, to do all this, the council have to assess the property before you move in.

I'm not sure if this is the same for all councils in England/Wales and I do not know if such checks are necessary if you're just claiming HB. It maybe worth just checking out first.

Scarlett1

Chrysalis wrote: »

Not sure about that in my case they seem to have not contacted the landlord, I had an overpayment and they dealt with me and it was paid back at £8 a week out of future payments.

Its still in pilot scheme at the moment and its how it will be for all landlords in future when renting property to benefit claimaints, they are changing it aswell to make it that all monies go straight to the claimant and its up to them to pass it to the landlord.

Scarlett1

minimadtrix wrote: »

Just as another thought. If you are looking for a new place to rent and are going to want help with the rent through HB, our council offer a 'rent assist' system, which means they also pay for the first month up front and also put up what they call a 'paper bond.' The tenant then has to pay the month up front back over 18 months. The landlord would then deal with the council if there are any problems at the end of the tenancy agreement through the paper bond.

However, to do all this, the council have to assess the property before you move in.

I'm not sure if this is the same for all councils in England/Wales and I do not know if such checks are necessary if you're just claiming HB. It maybe worth just checking out first.

yes I have heard of that, I think my LA do that now, I think they have to do something cause they are telling people that there are no council properties left and the only way forward is too privately rent :rolleyes:

Chrysalis

Scarlett1 wrote: »

Its still in pilot scheme at the moment and its how it will be for all landlords in future when renting property to benefit claimaints, they are changing it aswell to make it that all monies go straight to the claimant and its up to them to pass it to the landlord.

You mean the new system, housing allowance or something it called.

I am on the old system. I expect the reason my landlord hasnt been contacted is because I ticked no on the box where it asks if can contact landlord and they would probably only contact him in an extreme situation.