Benefit to Go Direct to Tenants

Social landlords could lose their battle to keep housing benefit paid directly to them instead of their tenants. Welfare reform minister Lord Freud told the British Property Federation conference that the social sector enjoyed ‘overprotection’, and that the government’s new universal credit regime would see fewer direct payments to social landlords. This would bring them into line with the private rented sector, he added. The universal credit, which will combine the majority of benefit payments into one lump sum, will be paid directly to claimants. Social landlords are concerned this will lead to an increase in rent arrears and harm lender confidence. Read more on the BPF website.