[Your address]
								[Your telephone number]
								[Your email address]
								[Date]

By [first class post / hand / email to: [insert email address]]

[Address of the Council’s housing benefit department]

Dear Sir/Madam

Re:	Request for direct payments of housing benefit to landlord
	Housing Benefit Regulations 2006, SI No. 213, Reg. 96(3)(iv)
 	Name of potential tenant/claimant: [Name]
	Current address of potential tenant/claimant: [Address]
	Address of prospective tenancy: [Address]

I write in relation to the above named, who wishes to rent a property from me at the above address.  I understand they would be entitled to housing benefit.

I can confirm that I am willing to grant a tenancy to them at the above address, but only if I receive confirmation from you that any housing benefit will be paid to me directly.
I write to ask that you confirm to me and the prospective tenant whether you will be willing to exercise your discretion to pay me the benefit direct under Regulation 93(3A)(iv).
I recognise that you may not ordinarily make a decision whether direct payments can be made until the tenancy has commenced  and the claimant has submitted a claim for housing benefit.  However, as you are no doubt aware, the purpose and wording of Reg.96(3A)(iv) envisages a decision being required in circumstances where a person has not yet secured a tenancy and become liable to make rent payments.
I enclose a copy of the tenancy agreement that I will use if you agree to direct payment of benefit.  The rent would be £[amount] per [week/calendar month].  The property is a [insert type of property, e.g. two bedroom house].
As you can see the tenant would be contractually obliged under the terms of the tenancy to pay their rent to me [OR my agent [name of agent] of [agent’s address]].  The bank account details for payment are as follows:

Name of bank/building society:
[name of bank]

Name of account holder(s):
[name of account holder(s)]

Account number:
[account number]

Sort code:
[sort code]

I am aware that, whatever your decision, you must notify me (as a ‘person affected’ by the decision) in writing of the decision in addition to notifying the prospective claimant (Regulations 2 and 90(1), Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 2001 SI No 1002, Regulation 3(1)(e)).
Many thanks for your help in this matter.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully




[Your name]

Copy: 	[Insert name & job title of any person you want to forward of copy of this letter to, eg prospective tenant, Council homelessness officer]








E&W_HB_LLORD_11
From landlord to housing benefits
Requesting housing benefit is paid directly to you because you're unwilling to grant a tenancy unless benefit is paid direct (no current tenancy)
NB: this letter assumes there is no current tenancy.  There is a similar letter where you are unwilling to offer a replacement tenancy / fixed term