Who is responsible for and where to send rent overpayments?

Who is responsible for and where to send rent overpayments?

8:00 AM, 18th July 2024, About 6 hours ago 8

Text Size

Hi, we have a fully managed property. The tenant is paid 4 weekly by housing benefit and forwards the rent to the letting agency. We have a number of other businesses and have relied on the letting agency to collect payments accurately and record them, raising any problems with us.

It has become evident that 13 payments instead of 12 have been paid for a number of years. I equated, that because the tenant receives payments 4 weekly, 52/4 =13, however, I looked carefully at the contract issued by the Letting Agent and it states PCM.

Does anyone know who the overpayments need to be repaid to our Letting Agent says it’s the tenant. I’m concerned about the DWP knocking on our door for reimbursement if we give it to the tenant.

I also want to know where the responsibility lies here, we reasonably ( I think ) expected our Letting Agent to inform us of any anomalies or issues, but we haven’t received any annual statements for our properties and it seems they simply collect, add to a ledger which only alerts them if there are arrears. I asked the Letting Agent how this happened and they said they didn’t know.

Our accountant didn’t pick up on this as they don’t have access to the rental contract and expected 13 weeks payment PA. I’ve contacted a legal advisor but I am still waiting for an appointment and getting very anxious. Anyone with experience or advice would be welcome.

Thanks,

Christina


Share This Article


Comments

Paul Essex

Become a Member

If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!

Sign Up

9:24 AM, 18th July 2024, About 5 hours ago

Are you sure there is an overpayment - usually the rent is divided into 4 week segments overall so the final figure is the same as traditional 12 monthly payments.
Just another irritating part of universal credit, oh and if they leave part way through a period you won't get paid for that time either!

Graham Bowcock

Become a Member

If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!

Sign Up

9:37 AM, 18th July 2024, About 5 hours ago

13 four weekly payments covers 12 months so this may be right.

Your agent ought to reconcile rent due against rent received. This is pretty basic. Do they not send you monthly statements when they pay the rent over? Very odd of they don't as that's part of the job.

I'd get the agent to sort it out.

Bernard Mealing

Become a Member

If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!

Sign Up

9:38 AM, 18th July 2024, About 5 hours ago

Where rent is paid 4 weekly. there will be 13 payments a year. 52 weeks divided by 4. = 13 n

Bill irvine

Become a Member

If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!

Sign Up

9:41 AM, 18th July 2024, About 5 hours ago

As Paul suggests, there doesn’t appear to have been any overpayments. If it was Housing Benefit (as opposed to Universal Credit) that was being paid, the Council simply takes the monthly contractual rent and converts to a weekly charge. The award, as paid under PRS rules, is paid 4 weekly x 13 per annum.
In contrast, Universal Credit is calculated and paid on the basis of a calendar monthly charge.
Bill

Judith Wordsworth

Become a Member

If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!

Sign Up

10:40 AM, 18th July 2024, About 4 hours ago

The Local Authority will be chasing you should there have been an overpayment.

13 payments every 4 weeks equates to 12 monthly annual payments.

Should have noted in the TA that whilst rent required is pm if payments are 4 weekly as paid by LA then tenant will not be in arrears monthly! Or some such wording as until the yearly 13th payment is made the tenant is technically in arrears on a 1 year AST

Cider Drinker

Become a Member

If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!

Sign Up

11:07 AM, 18th July 2024, About 3 hours ago

Unless the monthly rent is the same as the 4-weeekly HB payment, there has been no overpayment.

AST agreements should state the rent due in both monthly and weekly terms.

The formula is…
Weekly rent = monthly rent x 12 divided by 52

OR

Monthly rent = weekly rent x 52 divided by 12

It is important that landlords understand this.

Kat Scott

Become a Member

If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!

Sign Up

12:32 PM, 18th July 2024, About 2 hours ago

Christina,

This instance has shown you need a new agent. Your HB is paid in arrears & always 4 weekly. The agent should know this & that the rent is in arrears most of the year. As has been say above. HB never go by the AST monthly requirement. You have no overpayment to give back. Clearly, the agency is not monitoring your rents efficiently as they should know the HB querk and be able to explain it to you to put your mind at ease.

This may be time to do an audit of what they have been doing for you to take your business elsewhere. Ensure you have all tenant's applications, ID docs, references etc. Check deposits held corrected, ask for proof of documents served on tenants at the start of tenancy etc.

Interview other agents on the service they can offer you at a competitive price.

Best of luck

Kat

Cider Drinker

Become a Member

If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!

Sign Up

13:12 PM, 18th July 2024, About An hour ago

Reply to the comment left by Kat Scott at 18/07/2024 - 12:32
Housing Benefit is indeed usually paid 4-weekly and in arrears. However, the housing element of Universal Credit is paid with the UC on a monthly basis.

The rent statement should show if there has been any over or under payments.

Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Tax Planning Book Now