Will housing benefit element be reduced if rent rate reduced?

Sententia

Hi,
My rent rate is £40pm higher than my housing benefit and I have to pay the difference.
My benefits are likely to be reduced soon making it harder to bridge gap.
I want to pay the landlord the amount of housing benefit I get. But I wanted to check that If I can get the landlord to accept a £40pm reduction will this effect what housing benefit level I receive?
Thanks

tboo

Sententia wrote: »

Hi,
My rent rate is £40pm higher than my housing benefit and I have to pay the difference.
My benefits are likely to be reduced soon making it harder to bridge gap.
I want to pay the landlord the amount of housing benefit I get. But I wanted to check that If I can get the landlord to accept a £40pm reduction will this effect what housing benefit level I receive?
Thanks

If the landlord agrees to the rent decrease then you pay him what you get in HB


The HB will not reduce if the rent reduces as you get HB based on the LHA and your circumstances


However the landlord may not agree if he is relying on this amount to pay his mortgage etc.


And if the LHA reduces then your HB reduces as well so you'll have a shortfall then to pay.