Information for landlords

Housing benefit is awarded to help tenants pay their rent. 

Who can claim?

Anyone who pays rent to a landlord can claim, although a person who pays rent and lives in the same household as a 'close relative' may not get benefit. In housing benefit terms, close relatives are a:

• parent
• son or daughter
• step parent
• step-son or stepdaughter
• parent-in-law
• son-in-law or daughter-in-law
• brother or sister or partner of any of these people

We cannot consider your tenant for housing benefit if the tenant or their partner:

• were previously living with you as your partner in this property
• are responsible for a child and you are the parent of that child
• are director or employee of the company from whom they are renting
• are renting from a trust of which their child is the beneficiary
• occupy the property as a condition of their employment

We may not be able to pay housing benefit where either the tenant or their partner have previously owned the property they are now renting.