Housing benefit element
Dear Brentwood Borough Council,
How many people have their housing benefit paid directly to their landlord? In last year?
What is the Council criteria for having the housing benefit element paid directly to a landlord? Eg private tenant
Yours faithfully,
John Brown
Thank you for your request.
This has been passed onto the appropriate FOI officer and your request
will be dealt with as soon as possible.
Hello Mr Brown
Further to your FOI request, please see below responses:
1758 cases of direct payment including rent rebate (1255) cases where the
local authority rent account is credited with the Housing Benefit Payment.
503 cases for private rent or Housing Association landlords
When we must pay the landlord direct
When there are arrears of eight weeks or more, unless it is in the
overriding interest of the claimant not to pay the landlord. The latter
is only used if there is a landlord/tenant dispute over the condition of
the property and the tenant is withholding rent to encourage the landlord
to have essential repairs made. For this rule to apply the landlord must
contact the authority and provide evidence of the rent arrears.
When part of the customers DWP benefits are being paid direct to the
landlord, usually for arrears of rent.
When we may pay the landlord direct
When we decide that paying the landlord direct will assist the tenant in
securing or retaining a tenancy
When the claimant has an ongoing history of rent arrears and the authority
considers that paying the landlord direct is safeguarding the tenancy
The claimant has left the accommodation, owes rent and HB is still to be
paid. Limited to the arrears due.
The claimant has difficulty in managing finances or is vulnerable in some
way.
Where it is improbable the claimant will pay their rent and the authority
considers it to be safeguarding their tenancy
For non – Local Housing Allowance cases (exempt accommodation, Housing
Associations, and old rent referral cases)
The claimant requests this or consents to it
Where the authority considers it is in the best interests of the claimant
to do so.
If you are unhappy with the way your request for Information has been
handled you may request a review by writing to:
The FOI Co-ordinator
Brentwood Borough Council
Town Hall
Ingrave Road
Brentwood
Essex
CM15 8AY
If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request you have a
right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at:
The Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone 08456 30 60 60
Or 01625 54 57 45
Website: [1]https://ico.org.uk/
Zöe Borman | Governance & Member Support Officer| Brentwood Borough
Council
(: 01277 312736 *: [2][email address]
[3]cid:image001.png@01D5D4F1.0F046210
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