Tenants 'should be able to make LHA payment to landlords'

News Category: Industry News

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Tenants should be given the option to make Local Housing Allowance (LHA) payments directly to their landlord.

According to the National Landlords Association (NLA), the government has already promised to tackle this problem, with rent arrears waste totalling millions of pounds.

Public affairs officer at the NLA Vincenzo Rampulla stated that it would be an "easy step" for the government to take for landlords to be able to receive LHA directly from their tenants.

"The NLA is only asking ministers to give LHA tenants the same choice available to most people when they set up a direct debit or standing order for their rent," he said.

LHA was initially introduced in 2008 to replace housing benefits, with the aim of empowering tenants, but the NLA said it instead compelled many landlords to leave the housing market.

Earlier this month, commenting on the government's decision to scrap letting agent regulations plans, NLA chairman David Salusbury said the vast majority of tenants are happy with their landlords.

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