Direct payment to landlord

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is a Housing Benefit for people living in private rented property.

Local Housing Allowance is normally paid to the customer, who should then use this to pay their rent.

We can pay Housing Benefit directly to a landlord in certain circumstances:

• Where a tenant owes rent of eight weeks or more.
• Where a tenant has difficulty in managing their finances due to vulnerability.
• Where a landlord has reduced the rent to a level affordable to a tenant.

You can only apply to the Council for direct payments if your tenant is in receipt of Housing Benefit. If your tenant is being paid Universal Credit, you should apply to the Department for Work and Pensions for direct payments.

Please note: if Housing Benefit is paid directly to you as a landlord, you must tell us straight away if you find out about any changes in your tenant's circumstances that may affect their benefit. Failure to do so could result in you having to pay back any overpaid benefits.

If you think you may be entitled to receive Housing Benefit directly to you, please complete our online form using the link below. This can also be completed by the tenant or, on their behalf, by a carer, advice or welfare agency, another council service or a friend or family member. 

The tenant will be advised of any decision made to pay their LHA directly to their landlord. 

We may require evidence with the application. We will tell you the type of evidence required. This can be uploaded and submitted with the application. This could be supporting information from the tenant's family or friends, GP, Social worker, Probation officer, carer or welfare agency.

Submitting evidence

You may be asked to upload evidence on the application form.

If you need help with uploading evidence, see our guidance on uploading files to online forms.