The Government has indicated that it will at least consider paying housing benefit direct to landlords.
During a debate on the Welfare Reform Bill, a new clause proposed at the committee stage was discussed.
If accepted, it would allow the housing element of the proposed Universal Credit to be paid to the landlord if the tenant requested it or if the tenant was in considerable arrears.
Although the debate concentrated on social housing landlords, there are clear implications for private landlords who currently do not receive direct payments for rent when they have tenants on Local Housing Allowance.
Landlord bodies have been lobbying hard to give tenants the choice as to whether they or their landlords receive the allowance.
MP Paul Uppal said: “There are persuasive arguments about paying housing benefit directly to landlords.”
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