Local councils pay Housing Benefit to people on low incomes to help them with their rent. Private landlords are expected to keep proper records of rent that is due and payments made by tenants. As a landlord, you must provide your tenant(s) with confirmation of rent so they can claim Housing Benefit (if they need to).

The government has set standards (The Verification Framework) to help prevent fraud and to ensure people receive the correct amounts they are entitled to. As a consequence of this, all documents provided must be original and not photocopies.

One or more of the following documents are acceptable:
- Current Tenancy Agreement.
- Letter from landlord or letting agent.
- Rent book.

The evidence must include:
- Full name and address of the landlord.
- Full name and business address of the agent (if appropriate).
- The date the agreement started.
- The amount payable and what the charge includes (e.g. heating).

Housing Benefit can be paid to the tenant, the landlord (on behalf of the tenant) or to an agent who acts for the landlord. The tenant has to agree to any payments being made to their landlord or an agent acting on the landlord’s behalf.

Housing Benefits paid to landlords or letting agents are paid four weeks in arrears. If you have more than one tenant, you will receive one payment with a schedule showing the dates and amount of Housing Benefit paid to each tenant.

There could be delays in payment being sent out if:
- The Housing Benefits section has not received a claim.
- The tenant has not filled in the form properly.
- Original documents have not been provided.
- Further enquiries need to be made.

If your tenant’s circumstances change, the amount of Housing Benefit they are entitled to may alter (for example, if their income rises). This may result in an overpayment of Housing Benefit being made. As a landlord, you will be required to repay any overpayments that are made to you after a tenant has left your property.

Overpaid benefit can be recovered in the following ways:

- We can send an invoice to you or your tenant.
- We can recover it from future benefit payments we are making.
- If the tenant moves to another address owned by the same landlord and an overpayment has been made at the old address, this may be recovered from benefit due at the new address.

Landlords must inform the Housing Benefits Department in writing of any changes in their tenant’s circumstances, as soon as they are aware of them. For example:

- If the tenant has moved to another address
- The level of rent has changed
- The tenant and his or her partner’s income has changed
- The number of children/adults living with the tenant has changed
- The tenant has left the property for a temporary period
- The tenant leaves the property permanently.

Landlords who constantly fail to report changes may be classed as not ‘fit and proper’ to receive direct payments of Housing Benefit.

We cannot provide landlords with information about tenants’ Housing Benefits claims if we pay the benefit to the tenant or the landlord’s agent. However, we can provide landlords with the following information if Housing Benefit is paid directly to them:
- The date benefit started.
- The weekly amount of benefit and how often it is paid.
- The amount we are taking directly from benefit to recover an overpayment.
- Details of any cheque paid direct to you

The Housing Benefit section produces a newsletter for landlords that provides up to date information about any changes to housing benefit regulations or changes in the working practices of the service.

You can receive copies of the newsletter by contacting the Revenue and Benefits Liaison Team on (0116) 238 5114.

 

Landlord Forum

The Revenue and Benefits Section holds regular Landlord Forums. The next Landlord Forum will take place on 18th November 2008 from 1-4pm at Wellington House,Wellington Street. If you wish to attend please contact the Liaison Team (0116) 2385114.

 

Our last Forum was held on March 13th 2008 and was held to talk about Local Housing Allowance (LHA). Please contact us if you wish to be sent an LHA advice booklet or you can view the Local Housing Allowance pages on this site.

 

Click here for details of  previous Landlord Forums or you can download a newsletter from the Forum in April 2007 by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.

Advice and information for landlords is also available at The Housing Options Centre, Phoenix House, Welford Place, Leicester.

 

 

Before taking enforcement action for the collection of rent arrears (even when arrears are due to a delay in the payment of HB) please make sure that you contact Housing Options . They can give advice and mediate between you and your tenant.  They can be contacted on 0116 252 8707

* If you or your letting agent suspect that a benefit fraud is taking place, please call the Revenues & Benefits Investigation Team on (0116) 252 7488. All calls are treated seriously and confidentially.  Alternatively, you can email benefitfraud@leicester.gov.uk

Housing Benefit is administered by Leicester City Council, Revenues and Benefits Section, Wellington House,22-32 Wellington Street,Leicester LE1 6HL

For information regarding your tenant's claim, call: (0116) 252 7006.

 

If you need general information on Housing and Council Tax Benefits, as a landlord,  in languages other than English please visit www.benefit-leaflets.org/landlords/home.asp