Private sector rents

This course is suitable for assessment staff who have a good general knowledge of benefits, with the exception of rent allowance and local housing allowance, or as a refresher for staff currently dealing with RA / LHA cases. Suitable for customer services officers, housing officers, visiting officers, welfare rights officers.

Duration: 1 day

This course covers the regulations and administrative best practice that affect housing benefit claims from claimants in privately rented accommodation. Local housing allowance and rent allowance claims are always a difficult area of benefits law. The course is supported by group discussion, practical exercises at the end of each module and desk aids.

Learning outcome

At the end of this course entrants will have a comprehensive knowledge of legislation and the administration relating to the processing of private tenant claims. This course takes delegates through the different rent allowance schemes introduced from 1988 to date; referrals to the rent officer and rent officer decisions; maximum rent; ineligible and eligible service charges and payment of rent allowance, the introduction of local housing allowance, standard local allowance, size criteria, broad rental market areas, etc. Subsequent to this course, delegates can enhance their knowledge/skills level in more complex processing areas including: overpayments, student claims, self-employed claims, backdating & decision making, subsidy & assessment related issues, persons from abroad, appeals and fraud.

Introduction

Rent allowance

  • Liability to pay rent
  • Eligible/ineligible services
  • Maximum rent
  • Rent restrictions
  • Rent Officer determinations
  • Payment on Account
  • Local housing allowance
  • Verifying evidence of rent and tenancy agreements
  • Changes of address/rent liability/rent frequency
  • Changes that mean a new Rent Referral is required 

Local Housing Allowance

  • Who can get LHA?
  • Standard Local Rates
  • The size criteria
  • Categories of dwellings
  • Broad market rental areas
  • Payment of LHA
  • People likely to have difficulty managing their own financial affairs
  • People unlikely to pay their rent
  • The protection rules
  • Superseding decisions