Housing benefit and universal credit information for landlords

Universal credit

If a tenant needs help to pay their rent and are eligible, usually this means they will apply for universal credit and arrange to pay this to the landlord themselves. Some tenants will have their universal credit housing benefit paid directly to the landlord as a managed payment if they are struggling to pay rent. 

If you are a private landlord and your tenant owes more than two month’s rent, you can apply to universal credit to receive a direct payment for a tenant’s housing cost. You can also apply to recover rent arrears from universal credit. 

Landlord housing benefit account

Housing Benefit is being replaced by Universal Credit. However some tenants still have housing benefit provided through their local council. 

Login or create a landlord account to manage housing benefit payments or inform us of a change in circumstances. 

If you don't tell us about a change in circumstances

If we are paying your tenant's housing benefit directly to you and you know about a change in circumstances but don't tell us we can:

• take you to court

• fine you

The amount of the fine will be equal to 30% of the total amount of the benefit we overpaid you. Find out what happens if you don't repay a housing benefit overpayment.