Tenants 'Not Confident' About Direct Payments

One in three social housing tenants on benefit are not confident they can keep up to date with rental payments if they receive their benefit direct, a report has found.  Optimising welfare reform outcomes for social tenants, published by the NHF and consultancy Policis, draws on a range of data to look at the potential impact of universal credit.  The report found 35 per cent of social tenants on benefit are not confident they can pay their rent once they receive payment direct.  More than half (54 per cent) feel a shift to monthly benefit payment would make it more difficult to manage their budgets.  Eight in 10 (79 per cent) tenants said they will find it more difficult to manage money monthly while 86 per cent believe it is better for benefit to be paid to the landlord.  A total of 14 per cent of tenants do not have a bank account with a direct debit function, while 5 per cent have no bank accounts at all.  Download the report form the NHF website.