Housing Benefit information for Landlords

This information is provided to assist private landlords in understanding the rules relating to their tenants' claims for Housing Benefit.

What is Housing Benefit?

Housing Benefit gives help towards housing costs for people who are on a low income.
The person who makes the claim must be liable or must be the partner of the person who is liable to make payments in respect of the dwelling that they occupy as their home.

How is a claim for Housing Benefit made?

The person making a claim for Housing Benefit needs to complete a Housing Benefit claim form.
The form can be downloaded from this website, or the person can either request a form by contacting us on 023 9283 4556 or by calling in to any of the Housing Benefit designated offices around the City. Please see the link on the right for more information.

Where the person is also claiming Income Support / Jobseeker’s Allowance they can complete the Housing Benefit form included in the claim pack sent to them by the Jobcentre Plus Office dealing with their claim. It is important that they make their claim for Housing Benefit immediatley as any delay could result in loss of benefit.

Where possible they should send the information requested on the claim form to us with the form, but if any of the information is unavailable at the time, they should send their form to the Benefit Service straight away and state on the form when the information will be provided.

To speed up the process of dealing with the claim it would be very helpful if you could provide proof of rent which confirms the information stated on the Housing Benefit claim form. Also see ‘What information is required about the tenancy’.

Associated documents:

  Housing Benefit & Council Tax Benefit application form  (0.20 MB)
Link 11  ( MB)

Further benefit information for landlords

What information is required about the tenancy?
Confidentiality
Local Housing Allowance - information for landlords
From what date will Housing Benefit be paid?
Can my tenant ask for their Housing Benefit to be backdated?
Landlords responsibilities when receiving direct payments
Rent Arrears