Landlords call for housing benefit payment reform

The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) wants MPs to allow tenants to decide who their housing benefits are paid to.

The government’s Welfare Reform Bill is now in its debating stage and the RLA wants MPs to allow tenants to have their housing benefit paid directly to the landlord if they so choose.

It claims that research previously commissioned by Shelter has suggested that of those tenants who would like their benefits paid to their landlord, 95% are struggling to manage their own finances. Despite this, they are denied the ability to make a choice for themselves.

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NetRent Comment

NetRent completely support the RLA in this matter. In landlord meeting all over the country Housing Benefit has consistently been a cause of concern and anger for landlords. Huge numbers of letting agents refuse to even deal with DSS clients because of the hassle involved. None of this does anything to help people find a decent place to live.

Local Authorities understand the problem but can do little or nothing to relieve it. In short the current system is a mess. It's almost as if it was designed to penalise everyone involved, tenants, landlords and councils alike. There is no justification for allowing this situation to remain a moment longer. We call on the Government to act now to end this farce.