Under the Local Housing Allowance scheme, when a tenant applies for Housing Benefit any payment is made directly to them unless it is considered that the claimant:
- is incapable of managing their financial affairs
- is unlikely to pay their rent
- has accrued 8 weeks of rent arrears
Your contact details must be kept up-to-date so that we can make you aware of any changes as soon as possible.
Any direct payment made to a landlord will be paid every 4 weeks in arrears. Payments made to your tenants will be paid every 2 weeks in arrears.
- Download the Housing Benefit BACS request form
- Find out how to register for a Landlord Housing Benefit Account
Safeguards procedure
We have devised a Local Housing Allowance (LHA) direct payments safeguard procedure for tenants, landlords and third parties to use to minimise the risk of tenants falling into rent arrears and being put at risk of eviction and to reassure landlords that safeguards are also in place for them.
This document also details the procedures that the Benefits Service will follow when making a decision of who Housing Benefit should be made to, how the affected parties will be notified of this decision and what procedures will be used when reviewing a decision.
