DWP checking with private landlords?
hi,
i've been renting privately in london for 13 years and started claiming housing benefit soon after i moved in, but my landlord doesn't know about it. i know that they didn't allow people on benefits living in their properties at the time, so i tried and managed to keep it quiet, and would like to keep it that way still (they never had any problems with me whatsoever, btw).
recently i've received the 'transition to uc' letter, and i've read somewhere that the dwp might contact my landlord to confirm the rent amount etc… is that correct? that information contradicts the 'gov.uk' website:
" DWP does not have legislation to allow us to inform private rented sector landlords that their tenant has made a claim to Universal Credit. "
could someone help clarify this, please? i am slightly concerned since it will be next to impossible for me to find new (and decent) accommodation in my area if i become homeless (i am 63).
thank you
Comments
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They contacted our Housing Association to check rent so I'd say it's quite likely.
I'd also say your Landlord might not be insured to have a tenant on benefits, so not an ideal situation.0 -
UC contact social housing landlords as standard procedure.
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I don’t believe they will contact your “private” landlord. If you have been in receipt of housing benefit and have migrated to UC it should all be documented for them from your previous claim via housing benefit. People can be working and still claim UC for many reasons and UC will expect yoh to continue to pay your landlord yourself ftom the UC awarded after migration.
Try not to worry (I know it’s easier said than done). It’s so hard when you have to depend on benefits to survive and it’s so unfair of the government putting pressure on the most vulnerable in society. People who don’t have to worry about money do not realise how lucky they are. Chin up, stay strong and hold your head high.
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I just found this information which will help to put your mind at rest.
“Universal Credit does not tell landlords when a tenant makes a claim
, but will contact the landlord to get their bank details, so housing cost payments can be made directly to the landlord. This mostly happens when people in social or housing association properties want their housing component paid directly to their landlord. UC will pay the housing component directly to the claimant if the claimant makes that choice, however make sure this is clear when migrating from old style benefits to UC”
Also it is classed as discrimination if a landlord refuses to accept a tenant into their property purely on the grounds of their benefit status.and is this against the law.
hope this helps. x1 -
As I'm in the migration process myself, I can assure you that not only do they contact your landlord, but also they wait and do not start making any rent payment to your landlord until they get confirmation from on your housing costs.
They contacted my landlord about 10 days ago and are still waiting for my landlord to reply and confirm my housing costs which I've provided in the UC claim.
Hope this clarifies the issue.
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hi there.
that contradicts the most sources of information out there (if you are renting privately, your landlord doesn't receive direct payments from dwp - meaning you get the money from dwp and than pay the landlord yourself - and if you have provided the valid tenancy agreement with the rent amount clearly visible). here is what i found:
" No, Universal Credit does not automatically inform private landlords when a tenant applies for or receives Universal Credit. While Universal Credit WILL CONTACT landlords to confirm bank details for DIRECT RENT PAYMENTS, this is only done after the initial claim is made. Here's why:
Data Protection: Universal Credit, like other government benefits, is subject to data protection regulations. Sharing information about a tenant's claim without their consent could be a breach of privacy.
Landlord Notification Only for Direct Payments: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will ONLY CONTACT landlords to confirm bank details for DIRECT RENT PAYMENTS if the tenant is eligible and has requested this setup. "
if someone can be so kind clarify all of this further (but without using the terms like: "i guess", "i think", "possibly" or "it should be / shouldn't be", please), i would be really grateful,
thank you all
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Official guidelines- your text looks like an AI response which I wouldn't rely on.
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thanx,
well, this is from that link (the official guidelines) that you just provided:
" Notifying landlords that tenants are claiming Universal Credit:
Private rented sector landlords - DWP does not have legislation to allow us to inform private rented sector landlords that their tenant has made a claim to Universal Credit. "
i have included the exact same copy of this in my original post, and stated that it is from the 'gov.uk' website.
if anybody else can chip in, i would be grateful,
regards
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Hi,
My private landlord was NOT contacted when I migrated to UC.
They do require contact info, so theoretically they could contact them, but don't seem to from my experience and what I've read. It's social housing landlords that they always contact when migrating.
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Please disregard my previous comment, as I realise that my eyes had failed to capture the word "private" when I was reading the title of the thread.
My landlord is rather a housing association.
Sorry for any confusion my comment might have added to the issue at hand.
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thanx for that, very helpful.
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thanx for clarifying that. now the other people with the same query reading all this can have a better understanding and, hopefully, a peace of mind.
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That seems somewhat discriminatory. We provided proof of our rent but they still contacted our HA. But we had endless issues because our HA kept saying the rent was lower than it is, and so UC questioned us even though we had provided proof. Our HA must have eventually agreed with the amount we gave but it took several weeks for them to do so.
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Not letting private landlords know that their tenants are on benefits makes sense. Although displaying "No DSS" notices in the windows of estate agencies has been made unlawful, the practice of not letting to potential tenants on benefits is still rampant indirectly.
Private landlords are known to come up with all sorts of pretexts to get rid of their tenant as soon they know that their tenant is receiving housing benefit/element.
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Some landlords just sublet social housing, by this reason they don't want tenants on benefits.
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I do see what you mean, though I believe they have the power to contact social landlords at any time in order to keep the most vulnerable claimants safe.
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The problem is some landlords have a mortgage that specifies they cannot rent to people on benefits so if the bank find out both the tenant and landlord would be screwed.
We rented a home for a year that the landlord had told the bank he lived in to make the mortgage cheaper. With us on benefits he should have had a more expensive mortgage. When the bank found out we were evicted (We were leaving anyway) and he had to sell the house.
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"The problem is some landlords have a mortgage that specifies they cannot rent to people on benefits so if the bank find out both the tenant and landlord would be screwed."
Trust me, this is the first time I learn this. I even had to check it out, as I couldn't believe it!
I've learned something. Thank you.
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You mean some tenants sublet their social housing and not landlord, I guess!
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I seem to remember being asked by the DWP if they are ok contacting my landlord. I have no idea if he ever has been contacted. But they do know I am on benefits regardless, so they did find out at some point. It may have come from my sister, as when my sister became my guarantor she had discussions with the manager, and she is a bit loose with what she says.
The law is supposed to prevent discrimination against DSS claimants, regardless of whatever conditions a bank trumps in a mortgage agreement, law trumps contracts.
I think there is an argument to be made any mortgage agreement that specifically forbids DSS claimants is not compliant with UK law.0
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