Tenants – This is probably the second joint biggest reason why you can’t get a house and why you’re paying extortionate rents

Reply to the comment left by BobG at 11/10/2021 - 13:04
Yes Bob, if the Govt actually joined up the Council with UC & the Council Homeless cost with the Taxpayer & so on, they'd think Ooh this is costing us £10k+ overall, so why don't we just talk to the Landlord.

Reply to the comment left by Clint at 11/10/2021 - 14:50
Totally wrong Clint as u know, they shun't be allowed to do this.

Ha Ha never trust what UC say. I talked to the TOP TOP Nottingham UC partnership manager 2 weeks ago. Unbelievable, she rang me back 4 days later & got every single thing wrong I spoke to her about on the 1st phone call. They must employ the thickest people on the planet.

Them case Managers seem untouchable & unaccountable.

Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 11/10/2021 - 15:35
Exactly New Yorkie, It is so so easy to pay Landlord. What is the worst that could happen if u pay the Landlord? Oh I see, rent gets paid, Landlord pays his mortgage, tenant doesn't get evicted. How hard is that?

I always think it strange that when i worked in a job my tax was automatically deducted from my wages to be paid direct to HMRC by my employer as the Gov clearly didn't trust me or want to encourage me to manage my own financial affairs and pay them at the end of every month . No no no far to risky they thought
But my UC tenants are told - Hey we trust you implicitly. You may like the odd spliff or a can of ale but so what - we want to encourage you to manage your financial affairs so hey give it a go and see how you get on and take all this taxpayers £750 each month and just simply pay it on to your landlord . If you don't manage it first month dont worry we will still continue to try it again next month and give you another £750 and see if perhaps kindly you can do a bit better . If not don't you worry we wont chase you for it as these things happen in life , but maybe if the landlord can find us behind our walls of steel we might then have to start paying him direct so sorry about that hope you don`t mind I know it will be a bit of a pain not having free money
Still what do i know. The Gov must be right surely to do it this way and anyway I don't really need yet another £1,500 in my bank account as i heard on the news today I can now pay my mortgages with baked beans
ARRRGGGGGGGGH

Reply to the comment left by Jonathan Clarke at 14/10/2021 - 00:52
I've just replied to your other similar comment Jonathon on this post:

https://www.property118.com/end-5-week-uc-wait-and-pay-housing-element-directly-to-landlords/#comment-138187

Yes, DWP staff are told no matter what, pay the tenant at all costs. If homeless ensues, at least we've paid the tenant & done what the Govt wanted us to do. What's the worst that can happen if we pay the Landlord? Oh I see, rent gets paid, Mortgage gets paid, no arrears, tenant doesn't lose their home. But that would be far too much common sense for UC.

They trust 'em with £2000 over 2 months, & not the Landlord. Yet the same authorities say the tenant is not responsible enough to check their own smoke alarms & the Landlord must take all responsibility to make sure tenant don't take batteries out.

Ha ha yes, they get no repercussions whatsoever for wasting that taxpayers money on whatever they like.

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 14/10/2021 - 08:28
What we need is a a dozen moles to pretend to act as new tenants claiming benefits with a secret camera and send them through the process of claiming and expose all the flaws . They could all go in to the JC interview with a different kind of Tier 1 issue and share that with the JC staff and see then if they tick the `pay to LL`s`box . I know that they don't tick it and are taught to only do that as a last resort because the GOV want to try to work it this way and give them the skills to manage their own money . Its a good thought of course and in an ideal world yes - but totally totally impracticable because a lot of humans lie and cheat and cover stuff up when they see the opportunity to get £750 free cash in their hands as Christmas is coming up and they have kids mouths to feed and presents to buy

TV crews out there I`m available to be that mole. I fancy a career change . Just pay me the 100K I`ve lost over the years of taxpayers money which has been paid to tenants who call me from Spain saying sorry Jon I will sort that out when I`m back from my stag night. I know Ive done bad but you know how it is when i get those notes in my hand i just cant help myself . Sorry mate I will try to make it up next month...

I am amazed how this fraud is allowed to continue.

Tenants can only claim housing benefit element if rent is due to landlord.

Filling out UC 47 and APA for arrears.

Once landlord has arrears by tenant it should not be given back to tenant.

They can stop claim to get money where I am we recieve a call to ask for permission.

I make it clear as soon as that happens I will serve notice.

The DWP have a duty to protect the finance from the public purse.

I also asked to put in full formal complaint.

I normally say if a tenant says they are single but claim when living with partner DWP say it is fraud.

If they claim not to work but do it is fraud.

So how is it different to claim rent money and keep it.

Landlords need to learn how UC works.

Direct payment is not only after two months arrears.

It is if tenant has in the past had difficulty maintaining a tenancy.

Mental health or health issues.

Poor financial management.

To name but a few.

When tenant claims initially for payment in advance this it to pay for rent bills food not to party

Reply to the comment left by Neil Robb at 17/10/2021 - 19:42
UC 47 has been replaced now

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-landlord-request-for-a-managed-payment-or-rent-arrears-deduction

Yes lots of Tier 1 reasons to pay direct to us but it makes little odds . The problem is those reasons are not taken heed of as we have no influence at the application stage as no one asked us...

so tenants are naturally very tempted to mask these reasons as their eyes light up when they see the prospect of cash . That coupled with the operatives who are told to actively support pay direct to the claimants means we lose out big time

Reply to the comment left by Neil Robb at 17/10/2021 - 19:42
There is DWP regs Neil which say if tenant already in arrears on the old HB LHA system, Job Centre staff MUST tick the Tier 1 box to Landlord. Like Jonathan says, makes little odds.

DWP have openly admitted they wasted £6 billion in overpayments last year.

I put this separate page below with my Rent proof letters, not that it makes any difference to over the counter staff (although Job Centre managers do absorb it). They do their utter upmost best to not pay the Landlord at all. They don't care about homeless whatsoever, have no clue about renting houses out, know nothing about what it takes to keep that benefit person in their home, just whatever u do at all costs, DO NOT pay the Landlord. It's bonkers.

DWP guidance on MUST pay Landlord if LHA HB is already being paid direct to Landlord.

Direct payment to Landlords when switched from LHA where LHA is being paid direct to Landlords, UC HE HAS TO BE PAID DIRECT to Landlords:

The DWP link can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-landlord-engagement-newsletters/february-2019-universal-credit-landlord-engagement-newsletter

The bit you’re looking for is below, highlighted for you.

2.4 When can a Managed Payment to a landlord be requested?

A Managed Payment to a landlord can be made when either:

· a claimant is in arrears with their rent for an amount equal to, or more than, two months of their rent

· a claimant has continually underpaid their rent over a period of time, and they have accrued arrears of an amount equal to or more than one month’s rent

· any of the other Tier 1 and Tier 2 APA factors apply

Or for private sector tenants:

· a claimant was previously in receipt of Housing Benefit and it was paid to their private landlord, a Managed payment to landlord can be considered providing the claimant continues to meet the Tier 1 or Tier 2 APA factors

This is part of the conversation Universal Credit staff will have with the claimant at the start of the claim.

Also:

Direct payment to Landlords doesn’t need explicit consent. UC HE HAS TO BE PAID DIRECT to Landlords.

You cannot under any circumstances ask the tenant & then take their word for it that they aren’t in arrears & then pay them putting their shelter at risk

“Explicit Consent” was removed in December 2017 supposedly putting a stop to tenant’s misusing the “housing costs element”. (HCE)

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-detailed-information-for-claimants/universal-credit-consent-and-disclosure-of-information

2.2 Disclosure of information to private landlords

Private landlords are landlords who usually own the property they are renting out.

Private landlords can be:

a company that owns a lot of properties

a person or family that owns one or more properties

Private landlords can ask for their tenant’s Universal Credit housing costs to be paid directly to them without the need for explicit consent.

You will be informed that the private landlord has requested that the Universal Credit housing costs be paid directly to them.

If you are happy for your Universal Credit housing costs to be paid directly to the landlord, you do not need to reply to give your consent.

The Universal Credit housing costs will then automatically be paid to the landlord each month. If you do not want the rent to be paid directly to the landlord, you can dispute this.

You will need to provide evidence that you are not in rent arrears in order to dispute the alternative payment arrangement.

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 18/10/2021 - 05:57Excellent content Mick
I`ve had so many which were paid direct to me on LHA for very good reasons and then they get a change of circumstances. So they get shifted to UC behind my back and the rent paid to them . No one has the courtesy at the Council or DWP to even tell me that its happening. The poor tenant sometimes hasn't a clue either. They don't differentiate between the roles of Council and the DWP and see them all as just `the Government`. Its all well over their head and just another layer of bureaucracy as far as they are concerned . They are very susceptible and vulnerable in the JC interview and can be coerced into anything that the JC staff say. Their biggest fear is not getting any UC at all to feed their kids. So they become a nodding dog in there saying yes sir no sir when appropriate just to ensure they get some money . The first I get to hear of it is when the LHA stops showing my end at the 4 week pay period . I have to employ someone now to go along with them so they get it right as Ive been had over so many times . And that is just for the existing tenants transitioning. I wont take new ones on because of the way UC is set up . It could be all so different if they simply paid me direct at the outset all the time every time . But no they had to complicate it with their Tier 1 and Tier 2 stuff. If they had bothered to ask a seasoned LHA LL in the PRS before they set it up we would have told them straight . I would say you are setting the tenant up to fail if you dont pay me direct . But they didn't ask me and as a consequence I`ve reduced my HB exposure from 75% to 20% .
I tell all this to the new guy just started working for the Homelessness Dept with the council. Hes full of enthusiasm about working with the PRS and solving the Homelessness problem once and for all .As if . He means well of course and I don't want to dampen that enthusiasm but he needs a reality check bless him . You can tell he has already has been conditioned in what to say to me and has precious little practical experience dealing with HB tenants. In 3 mths he himself will be disillusioned and move on I bet . Solving the broken system is well above his pay grade
I would love to be a fly on the wall at his training induction course to see what madness they are teaching him