This page summarised the information that landlords need to know about housing benefit.
For a full information please read the landlord information handbook.
Information we need from you
Any landlord who receives benefit payments from us must keep us informed of any changes or problems. We need you to tell us about:
- changes to the amount of rent charged
- changes in services included within the rent
- changes in the number of people living in the property
- changes in circumstance or income of people living at the property
- if the tenant is eight or more weeks in arrears with their rent
- any circumstance resulting in rent payments being withheld.
Information we can give you
When someone applies for benefit we are restricted by the Data Protection Act (1984) about what information we can give you about your tenant's housing benefit. However, we can tell you about:
- the tenants that benefit payments relate to
- the periods of time the payments relate to
- the weekly amount of benefit awarded
We will also let you know:
- if payments stop and the reasons why
- if a tenant requests future payments to be made to them
- if a deduction is being made for a previous overpayment.
Failure to disclose information
This relates to cases where benefit is paid and a landlord or letting agent withholds information that affects the payment of benefit (for example, the claimant has moved out).
If we decide that the landlord knew about the change in circumstance but failed to disclose it, there would be grounds for prosecution. However, the authority would have the option to fine the landlord instead.
Fines are 30 per cent of the total amount of benefit overpaid as a result of failing to disclose the information and is recoverable in the same way as benefit overpayments.