Direct Payment Demonstration Project: Learning and Payment figures
During it’s preparations for the rollout of Universal Credit, six projects have been testing various aspects of Universal Credit including direct payment to landlords when arrears accrue. The legislation allows for direct payment to landlords in certain circumstances...Direct Payment of Universal Credit to Landlords and Alternative Payment Arrangements
It's been reported today that the government has made a “ change in policy ” and “ revealed that direct payments to landlords will now be allowed ” by a ” tucked away “ policy change. To further clarify the current position, this was not only legislated for...
A New Direct Payment Issue
The Department of Work and Pensions (“DWP”) has issued new guidance to local authority staff for local housing allowance. In the guidance, a new point is raised concerning direct payments to landlords when the tenant is the equivalent of eight weeks or...
Third Party Deductions
Where a landlord has a current tenant claiming Job Seekers Allowance or Income Support and there are rent arrears, it is possible to claim a small amount to be paid from the JSA or IS direct to the landlord. This is called “third party deductions”. What...When is tenant 8 weeks in arrears for direct payments? (Doncaster v CCC)
This entry is part 1 of 7 in the series Housing Benefit - 8 weeks arrears appeal / compensationDoncaster v Coventry City Council, First Tier Tribunal 032/09/00932, 5 October 2009 The Guild of Residential Landlords has won a very important case which will benefit all...When MUST housing benefit paid to landlord?
This entry is part 2 of 7 in the series Housing Benefit - 8 weeks arrears appeal / compensationWhen payment of Housing Benefit must be made to landlord See in particular this important case (Doncaster v Coventry City Council 2009) Regulation 95 Housing Benefit...
Legal argument as to paying landlords LHA – 2 months rent in advance
Payment of Housing Benefit to landlords Local Housing Allowance Regulation 95 Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 require a local authority to pay a landlord directly if a tenant is 8 weeks or more in arrears. As a general rule, landlords are no longer able to receive...
How to find out if a tenant is claiming HB
We all know the problem. If a tenant is in arrears and they are claiming Housing Benefit, the landlord can request payment be made direct. However a landlord does not always know if a tenant is claiming Housing Benefit or not. The local authority will refuse to inform...
Ensure payments are made direct to landlord
How can a landlord ensure payments are made payable direct? The general rule is that payments of the LHA from April 2008 will be made directly to tenants. However, it is possible for landlords to make some amendments to their tenancy agreements in order to ensure...Suggested letter – request for review of decision
This entry is part 7 of 7 in the series Housing Benefit - 8 weeks arrears appeal / compensation Before appealing, you should have asked for a written statement of reasons within one month of the decision. Once this has been received, the first stage of an appeal is to...Making an appeal
This entry is part 5 of 7 in the series Housing Benefit - 8 weeks arrears appeal / compensationIf a local authority refuses to pay a landlord direct after a request by the landlord (perhaps because the tenant is eight weeks or more in arrears), the landlord becomes a...Appeal or claim compensation?
This entry is part 3 of 7 in the series Housing Benefit - 8 weeks arrears appeal / compensationIf a local authority has paid a tenant in error, for example if the tenant is 8 weeks in arrears and despite the landlords notification that the tenant is in arrears, they...
Double Payment not Possible (but Compensation is)
The following case deals with the situation where payment was changed from the landlord to the tenant without notifying the landlord. This is NOT a case where the landlord notified the local authority that the tenant was eight weeks in arrears and then failed to pay...
Claiming Compenstation – SUCCESS LETTER !!
Where a landlord makes a request to a local authority for direct payment of housing benefit because the tenant is 8 weeks or more in arrears, often payment is made in error to the tenant. When the landlord complains, often the LA states that they cannot pay twice....
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