Housing Benefit is normally paid to the tenant, 4-weekly in arrears. However, we can pay Housing Benefit directly to landlords in the following circumstances:
- The tenant has asked us in writing to pay the landlord
- The landlord has approached us and shown that the tenant is in rent arrears amounting to eight or more weeks.
- The landlord is receiving money from the Department of Works and Pensions to pay off rent arrears.
We can also pay benefit direct to landlords when:
- The tenant has moved, rent is outstanding, and when some benefit has yet to be paid.
- We consider this is in the interests of the tenant and their family.
We normally pay Housing Benefit to landlords:
- Four-weekly or monthly in arrears
- Directly to their bank accounts.
Where we have not previously paid Housing Benefit to a landlord, we will need to send them a paying benefit to a landlord form (Part 13a). We need the completed form back before we can pay any Housing Benefit.
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