News 09/01/18 5:00 PM by Nathaniel Barker

Changes to make it easier for landlords to directly receive the housing element of Universal Credit do apply to the private rented sector, the government has confirmed.

Government allows private landlords to receive Universal Credit directly.

Private landlords will not require tenant consent for APAs, DWP confirms

73% of private landlords still reluctant to let to Universal Credit claimants

Measures to make it simpler for landlords to apply for claimants’ entitlement to be paid directly to them through Alternative Payment Arrangements (APAs) were announced at the Autumn Budget in November 2017.

However, private landlords had raised concerns that the tweak would only apply to the social housing sector after some ‘Trusted Partner’ housing associations were used for a pilot.

Following campaigning by representative body the Residential Landlords Association (RLA), the government has confirmed that private tenants’ consent to APAs will not be needed for those in at least two months’ rent arrears. Previously, explicit consent from the tenant was required.