£65m – Can landlords request funding on the tenant’s behalf?

£65m – Can landlords request funding on the tenant’s behalf?

15:00 PM, 26th October 2021, About 2 years ago 2

Text Size

Over the weekend, the government announced a new £65m support package to help vulnerable renters who have fallen into rent arrears during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s to be provided during the winter months and distributed directly to landlords through local councils, who will decide the best way to use the funding to support households behind on their rent.

This is in addition to the £500m package announced in September to help families struggling to afford food, energy, water and other essentials, but follows the recent scrapping of the £20 uplift in Universal Credit which ended on the 6th October.

Sherrelle Collman Managing Director of Caridon Landlord Solutions, part of Caridon Group, wants more detail on how tenants can apply or whether landlords can request funding on the tenant’s behalf and questions whether the funding will be enough to cover Covid rent debts.

She comments: “The pandemic affected a huge number of households, especially low-income households, with many renters ending up in arrears during this period. We saw tenants losing their jobs or being unable to work when they were having to quarantine, affecting their income stream and resulting in some tenants having to go on Universal Credit. This can be an unfamiliar territory and there are rules to get to grips with, such as the fact it can take up to a month to receive payment.

“It’s good news that the government is continuing to acknowledge the problem and I welcome its response to support the most vulnerable families, but Covid rent debt far exceeds £65m and further action needs to be taken. I would like to see the government reinstate the £20 in Universal Credit in tomorrow’s Budget to help cover the rising cost of renting.”

Contact Sherrelle for offline Universal Credit advice

Sherrelle is an independent consultant and is recommended by Property118 for landlords who require professional advice and assistance in regards to dealing with Universal credit related matters


Share This Article


Comments

Mick Roberts

7:48 AM, 28th October 2021, About 2 years ago

Yes please let us know Sherrelle, I've got one that needs help as he's got Mental Health problems & won't ask himself. And the Council won't normally help until we issue notice which costs money as some of us have to pay expert for this now.

CARIDON LANDLORD SOLUTIONS

17:03 PM, 28th October 2021, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 28/10/2021 - 07:48
Hi Mick,

As soon as I find out I will let every know!

Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Tax Planning Book Now