Posts with tag: housing benefit

Universal Credit Now Enforced in More Areas

Published On: March 7, 2016 at 12:40 pm

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The Government’s new welfare system has been rolling out across the country since last year. Today, claimants in four different parts of the UK will be subject to the new payment method.

Universal Credit Now Enforced in More Areas

Universal Credit Now Enforced in More Areas

Under Universal Credit, benefit recipients will receive one monthly payment instead of several payouts for different benefits. This includes housing benefit.

Additionally, any private tenants in receipt of housing benefit will be paid the allowance, rather than having the payment directly paid to their landlords.

If you are a landlord with tenants on housing benefit, be aware that they will now be responsible for paying their rent and their financial circumstances will be changing.

To avoid them falling into rent arrears, ensure that you communicate with your tenants about their finances and use rent guarantee insurance to make sure you still get paid.

As of today, the following areas will be moved onto Universal Credit:

  • FK20 in Falkirk.
  • G63 0, G82 5, G83 7, G83 8 and G84 in Glasgow.
  • NR13 3, NR29, NR30 and NR31 of Norwich.
  • PA20, PA21, PA22, PA23, PA24, PA25, PA26, PA27, PA28, PA29, PA30, PA31, PA32, PA33, PA34, PA35, PA36, PA37, PA38, PA41, PA42, PA43, PA44, PA45, PA46, PA47, PA48, PA49, PA60, PA61, PA62, PA63, PA64, PA65, PA66, PA67, PA68, PA69, PA70, PA71, PA72, PA73, PA74, PA75, PA76, PA77 and PA78 in Paisley.

We have been keeping you updated since the start of the year on where Universal Credit is rolling out to and will continue to offer this information for landlords.

For last week’s areas and the previous parts of the country subject to the change, visit: /new-welfare-system-introduced-for-more-housing-benefit-tenants/

New Welfare System Introduced for More Housing Benefit Tenants

Published On: February 29, 2016 at 3:00 pm

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Every Monday, the Universal Credit scheme is rolled out further across the UK. And today – leap year day – is no different.

If you are not familiar with Universal Credit, it is the Government’s new benefits system that rolls six payments into one monthly payout. This includes housing benefit.

New Welfare System Introduced for More Housing Benefit Tenants

New Welfare System Introduced for More Housing Benefit Tenants

Last week, we reported on some controversy surrounding housing benefit and private tenants; in the London Borough of Hackney, tenant group Digs found just one rental property available to those in receipt of housing benefit. On Saturday, tenants campaigned against No DSS policies that many letting agents and landlords adopt.

If you are a landlord with tenants on housing benefit, be aware that their financial circumstances may have changed recently, or will be subject to change in the near future.

It is vital that you communicate with your tenants on any changes to their finances, to avoid rent arrears. If your tenants do default on the rent, remember that rent guarantee insurance is the best way to ensure you still get paid.

For the areas that have become subject to Universal Credit since the start of the year, see last week’s article: /yet-more-tenants-move-onto-universal-credit/

If you have rental properties in the following areas and rent to housing benefit claimants, they will be moved onto Universal Credit as of today:

  • CB1, CB2, CB3, CB4, CB5, CB6 3, CB7, CB8 0, CB8 7, CB8 8, CB8 9, CB10, CB21, CB22, CB23, CB24 and CB25 in Cambridge.
  • GU3 3, GU4 7, GU12 5, GU15, GU16, GU17, GU18, GU19, GU20, GU21, GU22, GU23, GU24, GU25, GU46, GU47 7 and GU47 8 of Guildford.
  • HU1, HU2, HU3, HU4, HU5, HU6, HU7, HU8, HU9, HU11, HU12, HU13 9, HU16, HU19 and HU20 in Hull.
  • IP28 8 of Ipswich.
  • KT6 4, KT6 5, KT6 6, KT7, KT8, KT9 1, KT10, KT11, KT12, KT13, KT14, KT15, KT16 and KT22 0 in Kingston upon Thames.
  • MK44 2 of Milton Keynes.
  • PE2 6, PE7 3, PE8 6, PE19, PE26 1, PE27, PE28 0, PE28 2, PE28 4, PE28 5, PE28 9 and PE29 in Peterborough.
  • SG7, SG8 0, SG8 5, SG8 6, SG8 7, SG8 8, SG8 9, SG19 2 and SG19 3 of Stevenage.
  • SL4 2, SL5 0, SL5 7 and SL5 9 in Slough.
  • TW12 2, TW15, TW16, TW17, TW18, TW19 and TW20 of Twickenham.

We will keep you updated of the next rollout areas at LandlordNews.co.uk.

London Tenants Campaign Against No DSS Discrimination

Published On: February 25, 2016 at 9:51 am

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This Saturday, London tenants are set to campaign against landlords and letting agents discriminating against renters on housing benefit.

The Yes DSS campaign, led by private tenant group Digs, demands that landlords and agents end the No DSS policies that prevent renters from accessing private rental housing.

These policies, which are becoming increasingly common across London, indicate that the landlord will not accept tenants in receipt of housing benefit.

Digs contacted 50 letting agents in Hackney, finding that just one property – a one-bedroom studio flat in the north of the borough – was available to tenants who claim housing benefit.

The amount of working individuals claiming benefits to cover their rent has doubled in the past five years, according to data from the House of Commons.

When the coalition government introduced housing benefit caps, it justified the move by insisting that it would encourage landlords to bring down high rents. However, Digs has found that rent prices in the capital have spiralled way above inflation and median earnings.

London Tenants Campaign Against No DSS Discrimination

London Tenants Campaign Against No DSS Discrimination

On Saturday, tenants and campaigners will target a series of letting agents in Hackney who refuse to let to people on housing benefit. The demonstration will begin outside Hackney Town Hall.

They will publicly announce the agents that impose a standard No DSS policy.

The Yes DSS campaign calls for:

  • An end to No DSS discrimination against tenants on housing benefit.
  • A pledge from letting agents to only market rental properties that would accept tenants on housing benefit.

Heather Kennedy, of Digs, explains the cause for the campaign: “Where in the landlord rule book does it say that carers, disabled people, single parents or people on low incomes make bad tenants? These are just some of the groups of people discriminated against when agents, landlords and mortgage lenders say No DSS.

“Where are all these people expected to live? With homeownership far beyond the reach of normal people and no access to social housing, the private rented sector is the only housing option more and more of us have open to us. And yet people are being denied their last chance of finding a home, because landlords and agents, with increasing power to discriminate, unfairly tarnish everyone claiming benefits as undesirable.”

She insists: “We will no longer tolerate this kind of naked discrimination in our community from agents and landlords making huge amounts of money from people just desperate to find somewhere to live.”1

Eva, a mum of one and member of Digs, explains what the campaign means to her: “My son was 16-months-old when we moved into our rented flat. When we got our eviction notice, he was almost six. I was dreading the day the eviction notice came through the door.

“Even though I have been a model tenant, I have paid my rent without fail every month, I have maintained the property, I knew how rents in the area had shot up and I knew my landlord would be looking to make more money from the property than I could afford to pay.

“I started looking for another flat in walking distance of my son’s school. I work full-time and was able to find a couple of flats in my price range. But when I told the letting agent I claim a small amount of housing benefit each month because my wages don’t cover my rent, each and every one of them turned me away, saying they don’t take people on DSS.”1

If you are a landlord that accepts tenants on housing benefit, be aware that the new welfare system, Universal Credit, is being rolled out across the country. We are keeping you up to date with the latest areas subject to the change, to ensure that you stay informed about changes to your tenants’ financial circumstances. The most recent rollout areas can be found here: /yet-more-tenants-move-onto-universal-credit/

For a useful guide to letting to tenants on housing benefit, visit: https://justlandlords.co.uk/news/a-guide-to-letting-to-dss-tenants/

If you do decide to let your rental property to a tenant in receipt of housing benefit, remember to communicate often and effectively with them about their finances and consider rent guarantee insurance, which protects your rental income. 

1 https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2016/2/renters-demand-landlords-end-no-dss-discrimination

Yet More Tenants Move Onto Universal Credit

Published On: February 22, 2016 at 12:28 pm

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Since the start of the year, we’ve been keeping you up-to-date with Universal Credit as it rolls out across the UK.

The Government’s new welfare system means claimants are now paid one monthly payment of all of their benefits, instead of receiving them separately. This includes housing benefit.

Yet More Tenants Move Onto Universal Credit

Yet More Tenants Move Onto Universal Credit

So how could this affect private landlords? For landlords with tenants on benefits, the main difference will be that the landlord is no longer paid housing benefit directly – the tenants are now responsible for paying their rent themselves.

Additionally, there have been reports of long crossover times between the old system and the new, which have pushed some claimants into debt. As a result, some landlords may face rent arrears. Remember to communicate with your tenants about changes to their finances and protect yourself with rent guarantee insurance.

From today, more tenants will move onto Universal Credit, as it continues its rollout. If you have rental properties in any of the following areas, be aware that as of today, any tenants you have on housing benefit may face financial difficulties in the coming weeks.

  • AL3 8 and AL5 3 in St Albans.
  • CA8 2, CA8 7 and CA9 3 of Carlisle.
  • CF5 5, CF5 6, CF11 7, CF11 8, CF32 0, CF61, CF62, CF63, CF64 and CF71 in Cardiff.
  • DH8 9 in Durham.
  • HP4 1 in Hemel Hempstead.
  • LU1, LU2, LU3, LU4, LU5, LU6 and LU7 of Luton.
  • MK17 8, MK17 9, MK43 0, MK43 9, MK44 3 and MK45 in Milton Keynes.
  • NE10 8, NE13 6, NE15 0, NE17, NE19, NE20, NE22, NE23, NE24, NE25 0, NE25 9, NE26 4, NE27, NE31, NE32, NE33, NE34, NE35, NE36, NE37 3, NE41, NE42, NE43, NE44, NE45, NE46, NE47, NE48, NE49, NE61, NE62, NE63, NE64, NE65, NE66, NE67, NE68, NE69, NE70 and NE71 of Newcastle upon Tyne.
  • SG5 3, SG5 4, SG15, SG16, SG17, SG18 and SG19 1 in Stevenage.
  • SR5 1 and SR6 of Sunderland.
  • TD12 and TD15 in Galashiels.

Details of the previous rollout postcode areas can be found here: /do-your-tenants-receive-housing-benefit/

For the latest updates and landlord advice, remember to visit LandlordNews.co.uk.

Do Your Tenants Receive Housing Benefit?

Published On: February 15, 2016 at 12:49 pm

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If you rent a property to tenants on housing benefit, you may be aware of the new welfare system that sees six benefits rolled into one monthly payment.

This is called Universal Credit, and the scheme is being rolled out across the country. As well as combining housing benefit with other payments, landlords will no longer receive housing benefit directly. Instead, tenants will be responsible for paying their rent to their landlord.

Do Your Tenants Receive Housing Benefit?

Do Your Tenants Receive Housing Benefit?

Additionally, there is sometimes a long crossover period between the traditional welfare system and Universal Credit, which is seeing some claimants land in debt.

As a landlord, you should protect your investment by communicating with your tenants about any changes to their finances and consider rent guarantee insurance, which will ensure you still get paid if your tenant defaults on the rent.

Since January, we have been informing landlords of where Universal Credit is now live. You can find previous areas, and links to earlier roll outs, here: /more-housing-benefit-tenants-subject-to-universal-credit/

If you have rental properties in the following areas and your tenants are on housing benefit, be aware of the changes in place from today:

  • CM13 3 and CM14 5 in Chelmsford.
  • CR3 5, CR3 6, CR3 7, CR5 1, CR5 3, CR6 and CR8 5 of Croydon.
  • DE74 in Derby.
  • The E3 2, E3 3, E6, E7, E11 1, E11 2, E11 3, E12, E13, E15, E16, E18, E20 1, E20 1 and E20 2 parts of east London.
  • G44 3, G46, G53 7, G76, G77 and G78 in Glasgow.
  • GU1, GU2, GU3 1, GU3 2, GU4 8, GU5, GU6, GU7, GU8, GU9, GU10, GU12 6, GU26 and GU27 of Guildford.
  • IG1, IG2, IG3, IG4, IG5, IG6, IG7, IG8, IG9, IG11 0, IG11 8 and IG11 9 in Ilford.
  • KA1, KA2, KA3, KA4, KA5, KA6 6, KA6 7, KA13 7, KA16, KA17, KA18 and KA19 7 in Kilmarnock.
  • KT4 7, KT17, KT18, KT19, KT20, KT21, KT22 2, KT22 7, KT22 8, KT22 9, KT23 and KT24 of Kingston upon Thames.
  • LE12 5, LE12 6, LE14 3 in Leicester.
  • NG1, NG2, NG3, NG4, NG5 1, NG5 2, NG5 3, NG5 4, NG5 5, NG5 6, NG5 8, NG5 9, NG6, NG7, NG8, NG9 2, NG11, NG12, NG13, NG14 5, NG14 6, NG15 5, NG15 6, NG15 7, NG15 8 and NG23 5 in Nottingham.
  • PA2 8 of Paisley.
  • RH1, RH2, RH3, RH4, RH5, RH6, RH7, RH8, RH9, RH10 3, RH12 3, RH12 4, RH14 0, RH19 2 and RH19 3 in Redhill.
  • RM1, RM2, RM3, RM4, RM5, RM6 4, RM6 5, RM7, RM8 1, RM9 6, RM11, RM12, RM13, RM14 and RM15 4 in Romford.
  • SM7 1, SM7 2 and SM7 9 of Sutton.
  • TN8 AND TN16 2 in Tonbridge.

Keep up-to-date with all changes to landlord finances at LandlordNews.co.uk.

More Areas Now Subject to Universal Credit

Published On: February 2, 2016 at 12:56 pm

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Yesterday, landlords and letting agents became subject to conducting immigration checks on tenants under the Right to Rent scheme. But some will be experiencing even more changes to their lettings businesses, as Universal Credit continues its roll out across the UK.

More Areas Now Subject to Universal Credit

More Areas Now Subject to Universal Credit

For more information on checking prospective tenants’ immigration status, read our advice here: /right-to-rent-rolls-out-nationally-today/

If you have tenants on housing benefit, it is vital that you are aware of changes to their financial circumstances. Under the new Universal Credit system, six benefits – including housing benefit – are rolled into one and paid in a monthly sum. Additionally, landlords will no longer receive the payment directly and will rely on tenants paying their rent.

This could result in rent arrears, as many claimants have suffered long-term debt as a result of the long waiting time before their first instalment of Universal Credit is paid.

If you have properties in any of the areas below, be aware that your tenants may be going through some financial difficulties and support them where you can.

From yesterday (1st February), the following postcode areas are subject to Universal Credit:

  • AL4 8, AL6 and AL9 6 of St Albans.
  • BD3 7, BD3 8, BD4 0, BD4 8, BD10 0 and BD11 1 in Bradford.
  • CM5, CM15 0, CM16, CM17, CM18, CM19, CM20, CM21, CM22 and CM23 in Chelmsford.
  • E4 7 of Waltham Forest, east London.
  • EN8 9, EN9, EN10 and EN11 in Enfield, north London.
  • IG10 in Ilford, northeast London.
  • LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4, LS5, LS6, LS7, LS8, LS9, LS10, LS11, LS12, LS13, LS14, LS15, LS16, LS17, LS18, LS19, LS20, LS21, LS22, LS23, LS24 8, LS24 9, LS25 3, LS25 5, LS26 0, LS27, LS28 and LS29 6 in Leeds.
  • SG1, SG2, SG3, SG4, SG5 1, SG5 2, SG5 9, SG6, SG8 1, SG9, SG10, SG11, SG12, SG13 and SG14 of Stevenage.
  • SS2 5, SS2 6, SS3 0, SS3 9, SS4, SS5, SS6, SS9 5 and SS11 in Southend-on-Sea.
  • ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST5 0, ST5 1, ST6, ST7 4, ST8 7, ST9, ST10, ST11, ST12 and ST13 in Stoke-on-Trent.
  • WF3 2 and WF17 0 of Wakefield.

For the recent roll out areas, go here, here, here and here.

For all of the latest landlord advice and updates, check back to LandlordNews.co.uk regularly.