Can the Benefits Service check if the tenant has set up a Direct Debit/Standing Order to ensure the Landlord is going to be paid?
No. This is information which is beyond the remit of the Local Authority to collect. • Do you have any objections to paying a 3rd Party? (Need an explanation as to who qualifies as a 3rd Party). We can pay a third party at the tenant’s request where we are satisfied that this person is acting on behalf of the tenant. Providing the 3rd party is not the landlord or the landlord’s agent there is no problem with paying a 3rd party. • Can we have a designated Helpline when this is rolled out? At the moment there are no plans for a dedicated landlord helpline but this may be reviewed if there proves to be a need for it. • Will you still be sending lists to Landlords? Landlords will still get information regarding which tenants they receive payments for. If a landlord no longer receives payments they will no longer receive a list. • Existing tenants – is it mandatory that they claim every 12 months and will they have to do this under LHA? Tenants no longer have to reclaim every 12 months and
