You're not able to ask for benefits to be paid directly to your landlord.

If you'll find it difficult to manage your finances, we will consider paying your landlord directly. 

Request direct payments to your landlord

You'll need to:

Housing benefits team
Civic Offices
St Nicholas Way
Sutton
SM1 1EA

When payment can be made to your landlord

There are a range of safeguards to protect the interests of landlords and tenants.

Payments can be made to landlords if:

  • a tenant is vulnerable and unable to manage their affairs
  • a tenant is unlikely to pay their rent
  • a tenant is in arrears by 8 weeks or more
  • a tenant is having deductions made from income support or job seekers allowance to pay off rent arrears
  • a one-off payment needs to be issued on a new claim.

Vulnerable tenants

The Department for Work and Pensions defines a vulnerable person as someone who has difficulty managing their own affairs.

Some examples include:

  • learning difficulties
  • medical conditions
  • illiteracy
  • drug/alcohol/gambling dependencies
  • people leaving prison
  • care leavers
  • people fleeing domestic violence

We make decisions on vulnerability on a case-by-case basis.

Tenants that are unlikely to pay their rent

Some examples include:

  • history of rent arrears
  • history of fraud
  • severe debt problems
  • un-discharged bankruptcy
  • inability to open a bank account

How long we will make LHA payments to your landlord

We will pay your LHA benefit to you landlord long term, If we think:

  • that you are likely to have difficulty paying your rent and
  • there is little or no prospect of their situation changing

If we think the situation is temporary, or where rent arrears have been repaid, the situation will be reviewed. Once you are in a better position to pay the rent in full and on time, direct payments to the landlord will stop.