Information for Landlords and Agents

Housing Benefit is administered locally by the Council and helps people on low income pay their rent. Where people pay rent to a private landlord, the Housing Benefit awarded will be paid by cheque. These cheques are not legally payment of rent, but are assistance towards rent. Any shortfall in the rent due is outside the authority of the Council.

Payment of Rent Allowance

The cheques can be made payable to the tenant, the Landlord or Landlord's agent. It is your tenant's choice whether payment is made direct to them or to you. However, where we believe it is in your tenant's best interest not to pay them, we will pay you. Also, if your tenant is more than 8 weeks in arrears, payments must be made to you. If your tenant builds up arrears of 8 weeks or more and you believe that they are in receipt of Housing Benefit, write to us immediately to arrange for their benefit to be paid to you direct.

If you receive direct payments, we can discuss certain aspects of the claim with you. Even if your tenant receives the payments, we may still be able to discuss the claim with you if your tenant has given us written permission. Please note that we will never disclose your tenant's personal or financial details.

It’s Your Duty to Report any Changes in Circumstances

If you are a Landlord/Agent and you receive direct payments, you must notify us of any change in your tenant's circumstances which you might reasonably be expected to know could affect your tenant's benefit. The kind of changes to report include where a tenant moves from his accommodation (including any change of rooms within the same property) or a rent increase or decrease, or where the number of occupants changes.

Overpayments of Housing Benefit

Where more Housing Benefit is paid than a claimant is entitled to. The overpayment may be recovered from the claimant or from the person to whom it was paid, i.e. the Landlord or Landlord's agent.

If recovery of an overpayment is sought from you and you do not repay it, we can recover it from any future benefit entitlement which you might be eligible to receive in respect of any of your tenants. The recovery of such an overpayment will not affect the other tenants rent liabilities; such tenants will be deemed to have paid their rent to the full value of their benefit entitlement.

Landlords Forum

North Dorset District Council possesses a landlord forum for landlords and letting agents who rent residential property in the area.

Click on the following link to take you to the forum.  Landlords Forum