RLA News Service

The Government has let down tenants in the private rented sector who want the freedom to choose who receives their housing benefit according to one of the country’s leading bodies representing private sector landlords.

Despite calls from bodies including Shelter, Crisis, Citizens Advice Bureau and The Money Advice Trust for tenants to be given a choice, today’s announcement by the DWP of pilot projects for the payment of housing benefits excludes running a trial of this option. Instead the pilots will solely be in the social rented sector and will only involve the direct payment of benefits to tenants, instead of giving them a choice.

Speaking following today’s announcement, Alan Ward, Chairman of the RLA said:

“It is disappointing that a Government committed to choice and personal responsibility is not allowing tenants themselves to make decisions about what is best for their own circumstances.

“Evidence clearly indicates that tenants on benefits want to be given the right to choose who receives their benefits, particularly those struggling to make ends meet in tough economic times. It is absurd therefore that despite being committed to evidence-based policy, Ministers are not even prepared to pilot the idea of tenant choice to ensure policy best supports tenants in the private sector.”