Good morning,

One of the most frequent questions I’m asked by landlords, regarding Universal Credit is:

“Why has my tenant’s “housing costs” been cancelled retrospectively, when he’s still liable to me for rent”?

Firstly, the questions of liability to pay rent and your tenant’s entitlement to “housing costs”…

A happy, healthy and prosperous New Year everyone.

Just before the Christmas break, I received an email from one of my Housing Association clients, seeking my assistance with a Housing Benefit dispute, that arose when one of its residents fell ill, failed to return an annual review form, and months…

Good morning

DWP recently published the above-mentioned document, which is designed to provide, Social & Private landlords, with helpful information and points of contact, where queries exist, including dedicated phone numbers and email addresses, covering such things as:

Alternative Payment Arrangements Templates for use when you change your bank…

Good morning

Regular readers of our bulletins responded to our recent story about the tenant of Cairn Housing Association who received the backdate of £25,000 and weekly increase in his income of £66 per week.

Many praised the efforts of the Tenancy Sustainment officer who had identified and diligently…

Good morning

Recently, I have highlighted tenant case examples, where specialist RSL staff have helped tenants, successfully overcome obstacles, created by a DWP administration struggling to cope with the complexities, it’s created, in a benefits system, originally described as being “simplified, integrated & transformational”; it’s certainly, not fulfilling the hype,…

Good morning

I’ve repeatedly encouraged private landlords to pursue complaints against DWP, concerning its abject failure to properly administer its Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA) scheme and comply with the commitments it made to Parliament, in this respect. Some of you may recall my open letter to DWP’s Director General,

Good morning

I was contacted by one of our Housing Association clients and asked to assist with a case concerning one of their tenants, who had been misled by her local council into claiming Universal Credit when, in fact, she was “ineligible”, due to the fact she qualified for the…

Good morning

If your tenant claims Universal Credit, they will not be paid any money until 5 weeks after they submit their claim, and will be paid monthly thereafter.

They can ask for an advance payment of Universal Credit if they’re in financial hardship while they wait for their first…

Good morning

Amber Rudd, Secretary of State, Work & Pensions made a statement to Parliament yesterday confirming the commencement of the Harrogate (Managed Migration) Pilot; and announced the go ahead of the compensation scheme for claimants who previously qualified for Severe Disability Premium (SDP) who transferred to Universal Credit, prior…

FAO
Housing, Income & Financial Inclusion Managers

I write to draw your attention to a number of forthcoming Universal Credit training events in Aberdeen, Newcastle, Leeds and Liverpool, specifically relating to the expansion of Natural and Managed Migration and the impact this could have on your “working age” tenants,…