Defending a rent repayment order alone is ‘financial suicide’, claims legal expert
8 months ago | 3 comments
Rent repayment orders expanded to protect benefit tenants
12:01 AM, 30th December 2025, 4 months ago
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A government pilot allowing councils to use rent repayment orders to recover misused housing support payments is set to be expanded.
The Department for Work and Pensions, alongside the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, works with local councils to identify benefit-claiming tenants living in unlicensed properties, with landlords facing rent repayment orders from both tenants and councils.
The news comes as the Renters’ Rights Act will see the maximum amount of rent a landlord can be ordered to repay double from 12 to 24 months.
Private renters in receipt of housing support will have stronger protections
In a press release, the government explain the pilot scheme clamps down on landlords who operate properties without the required licence, ignore improvement notices, or leave their houses in mouldy, dire conditions.
The scheme gives councils streamlined access to Universal Credit data which is crucial for completing Rent Repayment Order applications.
The government say the scheme protects public money by stopping it from being wasted on unsafe housing through Rent Repayment Orders.
Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said: “Thanks to this pilot, private renters in receipt of housing support will have stronger protections against landlords who fail to meet public standards.
“No one should live in unsafe or unsuitable housing. We are giving local authorities the tools they need to deter bad housing practice, and ensuring better value for money by upholding safe standards.”
Take further action against rogue landlords and regain the public money they wrongly pocketed
In one of the trial areas in Camden, the council is using the data sharing to recover nearly £100,000 in housing support and make a fraud referral.
Councillor Richard Olszewksi, leader of Camden Council, says it is taking cash out of criminal landlords pockets and back into the public purse.
He said: “Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. With more than a third of households in Camden privately renting, it’s vital that we ensure landlords are meeting important safety and management standards for residents.
“This pilot helps us take further action against rogue landlords and regain the public money they wrongly pocketed. We’re investing this into more enforcement action and improving private sector housing conditions for everyone across the borough.”
Can deter criminality in the private rented sector
Justice for Tenants said: “This pilot has shown that we can deter criminality in the private rented sector and help fund housing enforcement services by making those who break the law shoulder more of the cost.
“This pilot is a massive win for all law-abiding landlords, tenants receiving public funds, the NHS, and every taxpayer in the country.”
The scheme is set to be expanded to 38 further areas including Leeds, Darlington, Bristol and Portsmouth.
Tags:
benefit tenants, housing benefit tenants, rent repayment orders, Renters’ Rights Act, Universal Credit
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Member Since October 2023 - Comments: 205
9:56 AM, 30th December 2025, About 4 months ago
I don’t see what is new about this.
Way back in 2004, I was renting a house to a guy who was on Low Income Support (basically local government paid 2/3 of his rent).
Then I got a letter from the council, saying that the tenant had taken on extra work, without informing them. So the council ordered ME to pay them back the rent allowance they had given me for him, for the last 18 months!
I asked him to pay me back, but he told me he had the grand total of £15 in the bank. Then he left.
And then government wonders why landlords don’t want to take tenants who are on benefits!!
Member Since February 2024 - Comments: 71
9:57 AM, 30th December 2025, About 4 months ago
While it remains OK for tenant to receive Housing Allowance from public funds and use that money for anything apart from rent….
What about action against rogue tenants to regain the public money they wrongly pocketed?
Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2203 - Articles: 2
10:36 AM, 30th December 2025, About 4 months ago
I was approached by a benefit tenant who demanded that I let a property to her, the DSS (actually DWP) would pay the rent and deposit but only after the tenancy had been established. She had 2 pence in her bank account. I considered her situation for a full microsecond before dismissing her demand.
Member Since June 2019 - Comments: 781
11:25 AM, 30th December 2025, About 4 months ago
How exactly does this protect benefit tenants? The actual effect is entirely the opposite.
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1642 - Articles: 3
12:10 PM, 30th December 2025, About 4 months ago
Does this apply to social housing?
Instead of the pilot being in Camden, it should have been in Hounslow. The RROs would be phenomenal… assuming certain councilors don’t get ‘involved’.
Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 620
12:17 PM, 30th December 2025, About 4 months ago
Reply to the comment left by The_Maluka at 30/12/2025 – 10:36
During the summer (before the RRB became law) I advertised a house and had a reply from a guy who said that he was a professional.
It became clear from his replies on the questionnaire that he was a benefit tenant.
I explained that I could not consider him because of my mortgage terms (this was before RRB became law) and he then asked me for the precise wording of the mortgage terms and when he did not get a reply he requested this information again a few weeks later.
I decided to sell the property and I had taken it off the market.
Presumably in future we will now have to ignore the mortgage terms and consider all benefit tenants.
Member Since October 2019 - Comments: 400
12:52 PM, 30th December 2025, About 4 months ago
I’ve always thought RROs are for the benefit of the authorities under a different guise – very clever! What happens to the housing benefit money paid out to tenants who don’t pay it on, is it clawed back – errr? What happens about income tax paid out on housing benefit income that has had to be paid back by the LL? I’m sure that tax won’t be refunded/credited without a battle as a trick to put you off bothering! Not long now till LLs are hung out to dry!
Member Since September 2022 - Comments: 41
1:42 PM, 30th December 2025, About 4 months ago
Just because a property doesn’t have a license it doesn’t mean it’s unsafe. Could be the nicest property, a piece of paper doesn’t change that.
Member Since July 2023 - Comments: 181
2:08 PM, 30th December 2025, About 4 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Stella at 30/12/2025 – 12:17
Correct. Primary law overrides contractual arrangements.
Start using an agency who have a formulae they can defend ref ‘affordability’.
Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2203 - Articles: 2
2:19 PM, 30th December 2025, About 4 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Stella at 30/12/2025 – 12:17
Landlords have to consider all benefit tenants, but if the rent is well above the local housing allowance there is (as yet) no obligation to accept them.