Universal Credit Advice For Landlords
We are delighted to welcome Sherrelle Collman from Caridon Landlord Solutions as our expert source of Universal Credit and Housing Benefit Advice and Information.
Over the coming weeks and months, Sherrelle will be sharing case studies which I am sure will strike a cord with landlords involved with benefit reliant clients.
The first of these cases relates to the often too familiar issues of direct payments to landlords. What should be a straightforward process can become tortuously complex when LHA staff fail to adhere to regulations, DWP guidance and Upper-tier Tribunal judgements, binding on council’s and tribunals alike. Landlords have rights and Sherrelle guarantees to help you to make sure they’re exercised.
Example provided by Sherrelle
“Our PRS client approached us as their tenant was paid the Housing Benefit 3 times despite a request for direct payment to the landlord being submitted to the Local Authority, due to the tenant’s vulnerabilities and high risk of the tenant misusing the payment.
The tenant failed to forward the payments to the Landlord and fell into arrears.
The landlord contacted the Local Authority Housing benefit department to check the progress of the claim, He was advised that the claim was being assessed and advised to call back within 10 working days.
When the landlord called back he was advised that 3 payments were sent to the tenant and would continue to be sent to the tenant as they are unable to suspend the payments.
He contacted CLS for assistance as he did not know what to do next, we immediately contacted the Housing Benefit Department to request for the claim to be urgently suspended.
After liaising and making a series of complaints to the Housing Benefit Department we managed not only to get the payments redirected to the landlord but also secured Landlord compensation for the missing 3 payments.
He was awarded £1065.34 in compensation and now has the guarantee of future payments being made direct, removing the risk of rental loss.”
If you’ve encountered similar issues Sherrelle would really be interested in hearing about them, either via the comments section at the foot of this page or the contact form below if you would prefer to consult Sherrelle offline.
Comments
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Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 585
11:03 AM, 12th February 2017, About 9 years ago
Yes that`s the spirit Mick. We are onto something here
Sherrelle – me and Mick are getting tired these days
Must me hundreds of other HB/UC LL`s out there like us as well
You cut your teeth on London now
You`ve got a good set up
Have a chat to Mario about expansion maybe
Get him to open up LA branches in MK and Nottingham as pilot schemes
Then take the successful model all over the UK as the bespoke UK HB / UC agency
Massive customer base.
Poach other disillusioned housing officers from the council into the private sector to run them
Give them a cut and a taste of freedom to be masters of their own destiny
I`ve tried once or twice but it didn`t come off.
I feel a franchise moment coming on.
Or a JV perhaps.
Or even a Dragons Den style deal
You probably don`t need the backing but if you do
Give me 10% of the business and i will give you 50K to start it all up
Maybe 15% as I thought of the idea 🙂
Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12212 - Articles: 1408
11:13 AM, 12th February 2017, About 9 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Jonathan Clarke” at “12/02/2017 – 11:03“:
I think this discussion thread is going rather a lot better than Sherrelle could ever imagined.
It will certainly be a nice surprise for her when she logs in and catches up with all the comments, once she’s got past the first one that is!
.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3249 - Articles: 81
11:23 AM, 12th February 2017, About 9 years ago
Yes, I have many a mate ring me asking what to do with their HB tenant who isn’t paying them.
And many of ’em sell or don’t take HB again.
How easy would it be for them to say to the HB agent, here u go, sort this one out & then carry on with the management.
Member Since January 2017 - Comments: 146 - Articles: 97
12:51 PM, 12th February 2017, About 9 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Mick Roberts” at “12/02/2017 – 06:48“:
Thank you Mick.
We are happy to hear that you were satisfied with the service.
Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12212 - Articles: 1408
12:55 PM, 12th February 2017, About 9 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Sherrelle Collman” at “12/02/2017 – 12:51“:
Hi Sherrelle, I’m delighted you have seen this. Make sure you read all the other comments too, especially the ones from Jonathan.
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Member Since January 2017 - Comments: 146 - Articles: 97
12:55 PM, 12th February 2017, About 9 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Jonathan Clarke” at “12/02/2017 – 09:29“:
Dear Jonathan.
Thank you for your feedback.
The services we provide are Nationwide.
We will be more than happy to assist you with any queries that you have when UC hits your area.
Member Since January 2017 - Comments: 146 - Articles: 97
1:01 PM, 12th February 2017, About 9 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Mark Alexander” at “12/02/2017 – 11:13“:
The support and spirit of this thread is amazing.
I was explaining to the guys that we are Nationwide and cover HB cases aswell
Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12212 - Articles: 1408
1:06 PM, 12th February 2017, About 9 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Sherrelle Collman” at “12/02/2017 – 13:01“:
If you do a Google search for “Universal Credit Advice for Landlords” this thread shows in page one of the search results already ?
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Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 585
1:40 PM, 12th February 2017, About 9 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Sherrelle Collman” at “12/02/2017 – 12:55“:
Hi Sherrelle
Appreciate your UC advice service is nationwide .
Mick in Nottingham can vouch for that so that`s all good
But do you offer though a full letting management service nationwide?
Member Since January 2017 - Comments: 146 - Articles: 97
6:45 PM, 12th February 2017, About 9 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Jonathan Clarke” at “12/02/2017 – 13:40“:
Hi Jonathan
We will be offering a guaranteed rent service nationwide later in the year.
As soon as this service launches I will inform you.
Have a nice weekend.