Does universal credit - housing element contact private landlords?

sallymmx

hi, I am a single mum looking to rent from a private landlord and I’m desperate for some advice

Does universal credit contact private landlords / notify landlords that you are claiming help with housing costs? I Am weary of putting the landlords details.

and is a tenancy agreement enough evidence to get support with housing?

thank you 

Galloglass

Does universal credit contact private landlords / notify landlords that you are claiming help with housing costs?

No - but they might if they want to verify the agreement

and is a tenancy agreement enough evidence to get support with housing?

Usually but don't forget that landlords have hoops to jump through too such as "right to rent"

Don't forget that refusing to rent to UC claimants is seen as discriminatory 
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn07008/

... but they may refuse on grounds of credit worthiness.

But ... some councils have a scheme that can offer loans of the deposit - or in one case I've seen act as a guarantor of sorts.

What issues have you run into? Have you chatted with your local housing charity or even the council's Housing Options team?

NedS

No, Universal Credit does not contact the landlord as long as the landlord is a private landlord (i.e, not a local authority / Council, or local housing association).

Assuming you rent from a private landlord / lettings agency etc (not Council or housing association), you will be required to provide a tenancy agreement as proof of your liability for the rent, and one other proof of occupancy such as a council tax bill for the address in your name. The UC advisor will be required to check that the details on your tenancy agreement match exactly the details you entered when making your UC claim. If the details do not match exactly then they will be rejected and you will be encouraged to enter them again, correctly, so they may be approved. But they will not contact the landlord.

45002

No.

But Yes they can contact LL if the suspect incorrect details have been supplied / fraud is been committed.

seatbeltnoob2

They don't need to check, the LHA gives you a fixed amount based on the number of rooms you're entitled to. the rate is the lower 30th percentile so on a private rental you're almost always going to pay more rent than what the LHA entitles you to, you're never going to be in a situation where the LHA rate is high than what you actually pay. SO there's not reason for them to suspect you of fraud like 45002.

Fraud would be commited if they felt you were renting the place but actually owned the placed (ruled out by land registry search), or if you were claiming to have more children than you do, or live seperately from your partner (in which case asking the landlord would be a fruitless task).