Information for
Landlords
How long will it take for payment to be
sent?
We will aim to process your tenant's claim within 14
working days of receiving all information necessary to support the
claim.
If your tenant is entitled to benefit,
notification letters will be sent to you. These will tell you how
much will be paid to you and the date the benefit starts. Please be
aware that the Benefits Section cannot give you any personal
details about your tenant.
How often will the Benefit be
paid?
Once the first payment has been made, you will be paid every
four weeks. These payments will be wholly in arrears.
Will the amount of rent I receive
change?
If there is a change in your tenant's circumstances the amount
of benefit may alter. Some examples are:
- if your tenant
moves
- if your tenant starts work
- if someone leaves or joins the tenant's
household
- if your tenant's income changes
This list does not cover every change, and you should declare
any information which you think may be
relevant.
What happens if I have been paid and
then a change occurs?
If a change occurs and the Council does not find out about it
straight away, too much benefit may have been paid, which is
called an overpayment. If too much benefit has
been paid and by accepting payments of Housing Benefit you can
be requested to repay the money. Landlords who
receive payments direct are expected to report, in writing to the
Council, any changes which they could reasonably know about.
How is a claim
made?
A claim for benefit is made by completing an application
form.
A tenant does not need to tell you that they have claimed
benefit. The Council can only discuss a benefit claim with a
landlord if the tenant has given his or her permission for this to
be done.
What tenancy information is
needed?
In addition to proof of income, every applicant for Housing
Benefit must provide the following details:-
- Date the tenancy started
- Date the tenant moved in
- Rent Charged
- Number of rooms in the property
- Rooms occupied by the tenant
- The name and address of the landlord
- A tenancy agreement,
confirmation of rent or a letter from the landlord which should
show the date the tenancy began, the amount of rent charged and any
services included in the rent (such as heating, meals etc)
How much housing benefit will be
paid?
Almost all claims for Housing Benefit are referred to The Rent
Service for a decision on a reasonable market rent for the
property.
Rent Officers are employed by the government to help the
Council work out how much Housing Benefit a tenant can have.
If a rent is considered to be unreasonably high, then the
amount of Housing Benefit paid could be restricted. Housing Benefit
may also be restricted because a tenant is living in a property
which is larger than needed.
For example, a couple with one child needs only two bedrooms,
so their Housing Benefit may be restricted to the level for a
two-bedroom house and not the three-bedroom house they actually
occupy.
The following criteria are used when deciding whether a
property is or is not overlarge.
One bedroom is allowed for each of the following:-
- A married or unmarried couple
- A single person aged 16 or over
- Two children under 16 of the same sex
- Two children under 10
- A child under 16
- Please refer to the Housing Benefit Office for more information
about these criteria
Housing Benefit cannot be paid for that part of the rent which
covers services such as water rates, fuel costs or meals.
The costs of these items are deducted from the rent payable
before Housing Benefit is calculated.
For example:-
- Actual rent charged - £70.00
- Water Rates - £1.00
- Fuel - £5.18
- Part-Board - £10.80
- Eligible rent for Housing Benefit £53.02
The remaining figure is called the Eligible Rent.
A person who receives Income Support/Job Seekers Allowance
Income Based/Guarantee Credit could be entitled to their full
eligible rent. A person on a low income will receive only
part of the eligible rent.
Housing Benefit is always paid on a four-week cycle. If
a calendar monthly rent is charged, the appropriate weekly rent
will be calculated and then paid on the usual four-week
cycle.
For instance:-
- Rent Charged : £350 per calendar month
- Multiplied by 12 months : £4200 per year
- Divided by 52 weeks : £80.77 per week
So, if a tenant is entitled to full Housing Benefit they would
expect to receive £323.08 every four weeks, which is 4 x
£80.77 weekly rent.
How housing
benefit will be paid?
We are committed to improving the service we provide and are
pleased to be able to offer to pay Housing Benefit directly into
your account. This is the safest way to pay you and you can use a
bank, building society or other account provider.
If you would like to be paid directly into your account,
please complete the
form on the back of
this letter, giving your account details. You can find your account
details on your cheque book, passbook or statements.
Please return the form to the
contact address and Housing Benefit payments
will then be amended in due course. Due to the potential number of
amendments, this may not be before your next payment is sent.
However, we will write to you once the amendment has been
made.
You will then be able to check the Housing Benefit payments on
your account statement. If you think your payment is wrong, please
contact us as above.
How long is benefit paid for?
Benefit will continue as long as there is
entitlement.
Housing Benefit is only paid while a tenant lives in the
property. Entitlement to benefit ends as soon as a tenant leaves
the property. This condition also applies if a tenant dies, as
entitlement ends on date of death.
Entitlement may continue during a temporary absence from
home.
If a tenant moves out or dies and you have been paid Housing
Benefit beyond your tenant's change of address or death, then you
will have been overpaid. You will have to repay this money.
There may be times when the Housing Benefit Office finds out a
tenant has left before you do. Housing Benefit will still end on
the date the tenant is known to have left - any further rent due is
a matter for you to pursue with your tenant.
What can a landlord expect of this
Council?
We will :-
- Pay Housing Benefit promptly, normally within 14 days of
receiving all the information needed to process a claim
- Make payments four-weekly while a tenant is entitled to
benefit
- Advise the landlord if the tenant has asked for payments to the
landlord to stop
- Only discuss a tenant's benefit entitlement with the landlord
if the tenant has given permission
- Notify a landlord promptly if there is an overpayment of
benefit
What does the Council need from the
landlord?
- Accurate information about the tenancy details including the
start date, rent charged and any services provided
- Prompt information regarding tenants moving out
- Recognition by the landlord that the tenancy agreement is with
the tenant. If there are difficulties with payment of rent, the
landlord's first point of contact is the tenant
- Prompt repayment of overpaid Housing Benefit
- Liaison with the Benefits office prior to instigating any
court/eviction proceedings