Posts with tag: Universal Credit

Universal Credit Rollout Continues

Published On: March 14, 2016 at 12:14 pm

Tags: housing benefit,rent arrears,tenants,Universal Credit

If you have tenants on housing benefit, it is vital that you keep up-to-date with their financial circumstances and the changes to the welfare system.

As of today, many more places will be subject to Universal Credit, the Government’s new benefits scheme, which sees six payments rolled into one monthly payout.

Universal Credit Rollout Continues

Those in receipt of housing benefit will now receive the allowance directly, rather than having the payment sent to their landlord.

If your tenants claim housing benefit, be aware that if they live in the areas below – or any of the previous areas where the system has rolled out to – you will no longer be paid their rent directly.

Instead, the tenants will be responsible for paying their rent each week or month.

It is important to understand that their finances will be changing and there have been reports of long waiting times between payouts as the system changes over, pushing some tenants into long-term debt.

If you are worried about your tenants missing rent payments, protect your income with rent guarantee insurance – the best way to ensure you still get paid.

From today, Universal Credit will be implemented in the following postcode areas:

CB6 1 and CB6 2 of Cambridge.
EC1M 3, EC1N, EC1R 4 and EC1R 5 in Eastern Central London.
IP26 and IP27 9 of Ipswich.
N1C, N1 0, N1 9, N2 0, N2 9, N6, N7 0, N7 9, N8, N10, N11 2, N13 6, N15 3, N15 4, N15 5, N17, N19 5 and N22 in North London.
NR21 9, NR22 and NR23 of Norwich.
NW1, NW2 2, NW2 3, NW3, NW5, NW6 1, NW6 2, NW6 3, NW6 4, NW6 5, NW8 0, NW8 6 and NW8 7 in northwest London.
PE7 1, PE7 2, PE12 0, PE13, PE14, PE15, PE16, PE26 2, PE28 3, PE30, PE31, PE32, PE33, PE34, PE35, PE36 and PE38 in Peterborough.
TS6, TS7 0, TS7 9, TS9 6, TS10, TS11, TS12, TS13, TS15 and TS29 in Cleveland.
W1T 1, W1T 2, W1T 4, W1T 5, W1T 6, W1T 7, W9 1 and W9 3 of west London.
WC1A, WC1B, WC1E, WC1H, WC1N, WC1R, WC1V, WC1X, WC2A, WC2B, WC2H 0, WC2H 8 and WC2H 9 in central London.

We will continue keeping you informed of the latest areas to move onto Universal Credit with landlord updates at LandlordNews.co.uk.

Universal Credit Now Enforced in More Areas

Published On: March 7, 2016 at 12:40 pm

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Property News

Tags: housing benefit,rent guarantee insurance,tenants,Universal Credit

The Government’s new welfare system has been rolling out across the country since last year. Today, claimants in four different parts of the UK will be subject to the new payment method.

Universal Credit Now Enforced in More Areas

Under Universal Credit, benefit recipients will receive one monthly payment instead of several payouts for different benefits. This includes housing benefit.

Additionally, any private tenants in receipt of housing benefit will be paid the allowance, rather than having the payment directly paid to their landlords.

If you are a landlord with tenants on housing benefit, be aware that they will now be responsible for paying their rent and their financial circumstances will be changing.

To avoid them falling into rent arrears, ensure that you communicate with your tenants about their finances and use rent guarantee insurance to make sure you still get paid.

As of today, the following areas will be moved onto Universal Credit:

FK20 in Falkirk.
G63 0, G82 5, G83 7, G83 8 and G84 in Glasgow.
NR13 3, NR29, NR30 and NR31 of Norwich.
PA20, PA21, PA22, PA23, PA24, PA25, PA26, PA27, PA28, PA29, PA30, PA31, PA32, PA33, PA34, PA35, PA36, PA37, PA38, PA41, PA42, PA43, PA44, PA45, PA46, PA47, PA48, PA49, PA60, PA61, PA62, PA63, PA64, PA65, PA66, PA67, PA68, PA69, PA70, PA71, PA72, PA73, PA74, PA75, PA76, PA77 and PA78 in Paisley.

We have been keeping you updated since the start of the year on where Universal Credit is rolling out to and will continue to offer this information for landlords.

For last week’s areas and the previous parts of the country subject to the change, visit: /new-welfare-system-introduced-for-more-housing-benefit-tenants/

New Welfare System Introduced for More Housing Benefit Tenants

Published On: February 29, 2016 at 3:00 pm

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Finance News

Tags: housing benefit,leap year,tenants,Universal Credit

Every Monday, the Universal Credit scheme is rolled out further across the UK. And today – leap year day – is no different.

If you are not familiar with Universal Credit, it is the Government’s new benefits system that rolls six payments into one monthly payout. This includes housing benefit.

New Welfare System Introduced for More Housing Benefit Tenants

Last week, we reported on some controversy surrounding housing benefit and private tenants; in the London Borough of Hackney, tenant group Digs found just one rental property available to those in receipt of housing benefit. On Saturday, tenants campaigned against No DSS policies that many letting agents and landlords adopt.

If you are a landlord with tenants on housing benefit, be aware that their financial circumstances may have changed recently, or will be subject to change in the near future.

It is vital that you communicate with your tenants on any changes to their finances, to avoid rent arrears. If your tenants do default on the rent, remember that rent guarantee insurance is the best way to ensure you still get paid.

For the areas that have become subject to Universal Credit since the start of the year, see last week’s article: /yet-more-tenants-move-onto-universal-credit/

If you have rental properties in the following areas and rent to housing benefit claimants, they will be moved onto Universal Credit as of today:

CB1, CB2, CB3, CB4, CB5, CB6 3, CB7, CB8 0, CB8 7, CB8 8, CB8 9, CB10, CB21, CB22, CB23, CB24 and CB25 in Cambridge.
GU3 3, GU4 7, GU12 5, GU15, GU16, GU17, GU18, GU19, GU20, GU21, GU22, GU23, GU24, GU25, GU46, GU47 7 and GU47 8 of Guildford.
HU1, HU2, HU3, HU4, HU5, HU6, HU7, HU8, HU9, HU11, HU12, HU13 9, HU16, HU19 and HU20 in Hull.
IP28 8 of Ipswich.
KT6 4, KT6 5, KT6 6, KT7, KT8, KT9 1, KT10, KT11, KT12, KT13, KT14, KT15, KT16 and KT22 0 in Kingston upon Thames.
MK44 2 of Milton Keynes.
PE2 6, PE7 3, PE8 6, PE19, PE26 1, PE27, PE28 0, PE28 2, PE28 4, PE28 5, PE28 9 and PE29 in Peterborough.
SG7, SG8 0, SG8 5, SG8 6, SG8 7, SG8 8, SG8 9, SG19 2 and SG19 3 of Stevenage.
SL4 2, SL5 0, SL5 7 and SL5 9 in Slough.
TW12 2, TW15, TW16, TW17, TW18, TW19 and TW20 of Twickenham.

We will keep you updated of the next rollout areas at LandlordNews.co.uk.

Yet More Tenants Move Onto Universal Credit

Published On: February 22, 2016 at 12:28 pm

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Finance News

Tags: housing benefit,rent arrears,tenants,Universal Credit

Since the start of the year, we’ve been keeping you up-to-date with Universal Credit as it rolls out across the UK.

The Government’s new welfare system means claimants are now paid one monthly payment of all of their benefits, instead of receiving them separately. This includes housing benefit.

Yet More Tenants Move Onto Universal Credit

So how could this affect private landlords? For landlords with tenants on benefits, the main difference will be that the landlord is no longer paid housing benefit directly – the tenants are now responsible for paying their rent themselves.

Additionally, there have been reports of long crossover times between the old system and the new, which have pushed some claimants into debt. As a result, some landlords may face rent arrears. Remember to communicate with your tenants about changes to their finances and protect yourself with rent guarantee insurance.

From today, more tenants will move onto Universal Credit, as it continues its rollout. If you have rental properties in any of the following areas, be aware that as of today, any tenants you have on housing benefit may face financial difficulties in the coming weeks.

AL3 8 and AL5 3 in St Albans.
CA8 2, CA8 7 and CA9 3 of Carlisle.
CF5 5, CF5 6, CF11 7, CF11 8, CF32 0, CF61, CF62, CF63, CF64 and CF71 in Cardiff.
DH8 9 in Durham.
HP4 1 in Hemel Hempstead.
LU1, LU2, LU3, LU4, LU5, LU6 and LU7 of Luton.
MK17 8, MK17 9, MK43 0, MK43 9, MK44 3 and MK45 in Milton Keynes.
NE10 8, NE13 6, NE15 0, NE17, NE19, NE20, NE22, NE23, NE24, NE25 0, NE25 9, NE26 4, NE27, NE31, NE32, NE33, NE34, NE35, NE36, NE37 3, NE41, NE42, NE43, NE44, NE45, NE46, NE47, NE48, NE49, NE61, NE62, NE63, NE64, NE65, NE66, NE67, NE68, NE69, NE70 and NE71 of Newcastle upon Tyne.
SG5 3, SG5 4, SG15, SG16, SG17, SG18 and SG19 1 in Stevenage.
SR5 1 and SR6 of Sunderland.
TD12 and TD15 in Galashiels.

Details of the previous rollout postcode areas can be found here: /do-your-tenants-receive-housing-benefit/

For the latest updates and landlord advice, remember to visit LandlordNews.co.uk.

Do Your Tenants Receive Housing Benefit?

Published On: February 15, 2016 at 12:49 pm

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Finance News

Tags: housing benefit,landlord finances,tenants,Universal Credit

If you rent a property to tenants on housing benefit, you may be aware of the new welfare system that sees six benefits rolled into one monthly payment.

This is called Universal Credit, and the scheme is being rolled out across the country. As well as combining housing benefit with other payments, landlords will no longer receive housing benefit directly. Instead, tenants will be responsible for paying their rent to their landlord.

Do Your Tenants Receive Housing Benefit?

Additionally, there is sometimes a long crossover period between the traditional welfare system and Universal Credit, which is seeing some claimants land in debt.

As a landlord, you should protect your investment by communicating with your tenants about any changes to their finances and consider rent guarantee insurance, which will ensure you still get paid if your tenant defaults on the rent.

Since January, we have been informing landlords of where Universal Credit is now live. You can find previous areas, and links to earlier roll outs, here: /more-housing-benefit-tenants-subject-to-universal-credit/

If you have rental properties in the following areas and your tenants are on housing benefit, be aware of the changes in place from today:

CM13 3 and CM14 5 in Chelmsford.
CR3 5, CR3 6, CR3 7, CR5 1, CR5 3, CR6 and CR8 5 of Croydon.
DE74 in Derby.
The E3 2, E3 3, E6, E7, E11 1, E11 2, E11 3, E12, E13, E15, E16, E18, E20 1, E20 1 and E20 2 parts of east London.
G44 3, G46, G53 7, G76, G77 and G78 in Glasgow.
GU1, GU2, GU3 1, GU3 2, GU4 8, GU5, GU6, GU7, GU8, GU9, GU10, GU12 6, GU26 and GU27 of Guildford.
IG1, IG2, IG3, IG4, IG5, IG6, IG7, IG8, IG9, IG11 0, IG11 8 and IG11 9 in Ilford.
KA1, KA2, KA3, KA4, KA5, KA6 6, KA6 7, KA13 7, KA16, KA17, KA18 and KA19 7 in Kilmarnock.
KT4 7, KT17, KT18, KT19, KT20, KT21, KT22 2, KT22 7, KT22 8, KT22 9, KT23 and KT24 of Kingston upon Thames.
LE12 5, LE12 6, LE14 3 in Leicester.
NG1, NG2, NG3, NG4, NG5 1, NG5 2, NG5 3, NG5 4, NG5 5, NG5 6, NG5 8, NG5 9, NG6, NG7, NG8, NG9 2, NG11, NG12, NG13, NG14 5, NG14 6, NG15 5, NG15 6, NG15 7, NG15 8 and NG23 5 in Nottingham.
PA2 8 of Paisley.
RH1, RH2, RH3, RH4, RH5, RH6, RH7, RH8, RH9, RH10 3, RH12 3, RH12 4, RH14 0, RH19 2 and RH19 3 in Redhill.
RM1, RM2, RM3, RM4, RM5, RM6 4, RM6 5, RM7, RM8 1, RM9 6, RM11, RM12, RM13, RM14 and RM15 4 in Romford.
SM7 1, SM7 2 and SM7 9 of Sutton.
TN8 AND TN16 2 in Tonbridge.

Keep up-to-date with all changes to landlord finances at LandlordNews.co.uk.

More Housing Benefit Tenants Subject to Universal Credit

Published On: February 8, 2016 at 9:52 am

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: rent arrears,tenants,Universal Credit

Do you have tenants on housing benefit? If so, you must be aware of Universal Credit, the Government’s new welfare system.

More Housing Benefit Tenants Subject to Universal Credit

Universal Credit sees six benefit payments, including housing benefit, rolled into one monthly payout. This means that housing benefit will be paid directly to tenants for the first time. Landlords, it is important that you communicate with your tenants about any financial changes.

It is believed that Universal Credit is leading to a rise in rent arrears. Protect your investment with rent guarantee insurance to minimise damage to your lettings business.

Since the New Year, Universal Credit has been rolling out across the country. See the areas it is already in operation here, here, here and here. Remember that we will keep you up-to-date with all of the new areas where benefit claimants will soon be receiving the new payments.

If you have rental properties in any of the following areas, your benefit tenants will now be on Universal Credit:

BR1 4, BR1 5 and BR3 1 in Bromley.
CR4 1 in Croydon.
DA1 3, DA1 4, DA1 5, DA5, DA6, DA7, DA8, DA14, DA15, DA16, DA17 and DA18 in Dartford.
DY3 1 in Dudley.
GU11, GU12 4, GU14, GU30, GU31, GU32, GU33, GU34 1, GU34 2, GU34 3, GU34 9, GU35, GU51 and GU52 in Guildford.
RG7 1 in Reading.
SE2, SE3, SE4, SE5, SE6, SE8 3, SE8 4, SE8 9, SE9 2, SE9 3, SE9 4, SE10 8, SE11, SE12 0, SE12 8, SE12 9, SE13, SE14, SE15, SE16 3, SE16 9, SE17, SE19, SE21, SE22, SE23, SE24, SE26, SE27 and SE28 in southeast London.
SO24 0 in Southampton.
SW2, SW3, SW4, SW8, SW9, SW11 1, SW11 3, SW11 4, SW11 5, SW11 6, SW12, SW16, SW17 8 and SW17 9 in southwest London and Battersea.
TS1, TS2, TS3, TS4, TS5, TS7 8, TS8, TS9 7, TS17 7 and TS17 9 in Cleveland/Teesside.
WS10 8 in Walsall.
WV1, WV2, WV3, WV4, WV5, WV6, WV7, WV8, WV9, WV10, WV11, WV12, WV13 and WV14 in Wolverhampton.