LHA

When will the Benefit Section make payments to the landlord?

We must usually pay the housing benefit to your  landlord if you are eight weeks or more in arrears with your rent.

 

Payment may also be made direct to the landlord where we decide that you are:

  • likely to have difficulty in managing their financial affairs
  • unlikely to pay their rent

 

Who can ask for the payments to be made to the landlord?

Tenants, landlords, tenants' families or persons acting on the tenants' behalf, may tell the Benefit Section that they are having difficulty paying their rent, or are likely to. We may also identify tenants who may have difficulty managing their money, for example, when we are carrying out home visits.

 

You can request that payments are made to your landlord using an application for direct payment form.  Please contact us if you think you need one or you can download a form here.

 

Who may have difficulty paying their rent?

There are many reasons why someone may have difficulty paying their rent. They might be someone who:

  • has severe debt problems
  • has a recent County Court judgement against them
  • is undischarged bankrupt
  • is unable to open a bank or building society account
  • has some of their Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance paid direct to the gas, electricity or water company by the Department for Work and Pensions
  • is getting Supporting People help
  • is getting help from a homeless charity.

 

Or someone may have difficulty paying their rent if they:

  • have learning difficulties
  • have an illness that stops them managing on a day-to-day basis
  • cannot read English
  • cannot speak English
  • are addicted to drugs, alcohol or gambling
  • are fleeing domestic violence
  • are a care leaver
  • are leaving prison
  • are homeless.

 

Who decides if we may pay the landlord?

We decide if we may pay the landlord.

 

There may be times when Housing Benefit staff know someone has difficulty in managing their money and may take action based on this knowledge. 

 

We must have evidence to show that they have difficulty managing their money and that it is in their interest that we pay the landlord directly. Evidence should usually be in writing. People who can provide evidence include:

  • the tenant
  • friends and family of the tenant
  • the landlord
  • welfare groups (including money advisers)
  • Social Services
  • probation officers
  • Jobcentre Plus
  • The Pension Service
  • homeless charities/organisations
  • Supporting People teams
  • local/council rent deposit scheme administrators, homelessness or

 

Making a decision

Once we have collected all the relevant evidence, we will decide as quickly as possible if we should make direct payments to the landlord. We will write to you and explain our decision. We will also write to your landlord.

 

Reviews and appeals

If you or  your landlord disagrees with our decision you can ask us to look at the decision again. This is called a review. Or they can appeal against the decision, giving reasons why they think the decision is wrong.

 

How do I find out more?

 

You can download the following leaflet A guide for tenants renting from private landlords.

 

You can email us at benefits@broxbourne.gov.uk.

 

You can also visit the websites for The Rent Service and The Financial Services Authority for further information.