Private landlords to learn about major change in benefits

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Private landlords are being urged to attend a forum organised by Renfrewshire Council to explain major changes to the way housing benefits are worked out and paid.

Renfrewshire Council is hosting the Private Landlords' Forum on Tuesday 19 February at Paisley Town Hall. The event is the second in a series of meetings designed to help the council and private landlords work together to provide high-quality, private rented homes for local residents.

Landlords who attend the forum will hear more about the new Local Housing Allowance (LHA) which is due to be introduced on Monday 7 April 2008. One of the key changes under the LHA is that rent payments will now be made directly to tenants rather than landlords. There is also a new way of deciding how much rent a tenant gets.

A flat rate (the LHA) is now used to work out how much benefit a tenant gets. The rate is based on the number of people in the tenant's household and the area where they decide to rent a home.

Different LHAs will apply in different areas. These are known as Broad Market Rental Areas (BMRAs). Within each BMRA, the LHA will be based on the mid-point rent charged by private landlords in the area for different-sized properties. Each month, the LHA will be worked out by the rent service.

The new rules will be phased-in and will initially only affect tenants making a new claim, tenants who move to a different address and tenants who have a break of one week or more in their claim.

Councillor Brian Lawson, convener of the housing and community safety policy board, said: "Landlords and tenants are facing major changes in the way housing benefit is worked out and paid. I would urge landlords to come to the Private Landlords' Forum on Tuesday 19 February so that they can find out about these complex changes before they are introduced in April."

The aim of the changes, introduced by the Department of Work and Pensions, is to simplify the existing system and make tenants responsible for budgeting and paying their rent.

Any landlords or agents who are letting property in Renfrewshire who want to attend should register by emailing privategrants.hps@renfrewshire.gov.uk or by contacting the private sector housing section on 0141 840 3904.

Press release: Friday 15 February 2008