Information Library

Good morning

My “Untidy Tenancy” bulletin of late February 2020 explains how, when couples separate or tenants, permanently vacate; move into residential care; enter prison (long term) or die, any remaining partners, non-dependent sons, daughters etc. can either be treated as liable for the full rent or can assume…

Good afternoon

Yesterday, Saturday 27th June, I received notification of a First-tier Tribunal outcome, to an appeal lodged more than 1 year ago. What’s so unusual about this is, I had no knowledge, neither did my client, the case was being considered, under new temporary rules, created by the COVID…

Good morning

A London based landlord client asked me to assist two of his joint tenants challenge an adverse Housing Benefit decision, explained below:

Council’s view – “You are currently registered as non-dependant under your brother, Mr Sandilands’s active claim for Housing Benefit.  According to the rules you are not…

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The Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed DWP’s appeal against a previous High Court ruling which had found in favour of 4 single mothers, supported by CPAG. The case revolved around the way in which the ladies monthly salaries were treated under Universal Credit rules, sometimes leaving them with…

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Since UC was introduced, one of the biggest sources of frustration of social landlords’ staff is, DWP’s unwillingness to converse freely about tenants’ claims by phone, e-mail, or letter. In contrast, SRS staff, plus landlords in the private sector, enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship with Council HB teams,…

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Mick Roberts is a Nottingham based landlord, heavily invested in providing accommodation to benefit dependant tenants. Prior to the introduction of Universal Credit, he had become accustomed to dealing with 5 local councils. Within the council Housing Benefit sections he could email or phone named contacts and expect…

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After a 6-8 week period of near chaos in the Social Security system, with a 70% increase in the number of receipients, £1.8M new claims, 700,000 Advance Payment requests, 10,000 DWP staff redeployed to the frontline, things look as if they’re finally calming down enough for a catch-up!

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Good morning

Between the 16th March and end of April 2020, DWP processed:

a) Around 1.8 million claims for Universal Credit;

b) 700,000 claims for advance payments;

the vast majority of which were dealt with and paid within the usual 5 week period or, in the case of advances, within…

Good Afternoon

Neil Couling, DWP’s most senior director, announced yesterday, the launch of the online Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA) scheme, the link to which can be found here

As I’ve mentioned before, the online system was being tested by a number of my PRS clients, in various parts of…

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Perhaps unsurprisingly, two of the most common questions I’m asked by PRS landlords and agents are:

How can I secure the “housing costs element” (HCE) of Universal Credit direct to me; and Does the tenant have to provide their consent before DWP will act on my request?

To…