§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to allow registered social landlords to verify new tenant claims for housing benefit. [112623]
§ Angela EagleWe have no plans to make it our policy to allow registered social landlords to verify evidence for Housing Benefit claims on behalf of the local authority.
While landlords can assist their tenants by collecting the necessary evidence and forwarding it to the local authority, there is a potential conflict of interest in any landlord certifying evidence on behalf of a tenant in order that the tenant's rent may be paid by way of Housing Benefit.
§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to provide housing benefit to tenants of registered social landlords on the same basis as tenants of local authorities; and if he will make a statement. [112622]
§ Angela EagleCases involving Housing Benefit claims from local authority tenants are not subject to rent officer controls over the amount of Housing Benefit payable 727W because local authority rents are subject to rules set by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. In these cases, as landlords, local authorities provide Housing Benefit simply by rebating their tenants' rent accounts.
Cases involving Housing Benefit claims from tenants of registered social landlords are not referred to rent officers unless it appears to the local authority that the level of rent charged is unreasonably high or the accommodation is over-large.
Payments of Housing Benefit are made either directly to registered social landlords or to their tenants. We have no plans to empower registered social landlords to administer the Housing Benefit scheme in respect of their tenants.