Tenants on Housing Benefit
Ultimate i-track including Landlord & Tenant Account Information Section >> Tenants on Housing Benefit
Tenants who are in receipt of housing benefit assistance will be eligible to apply for certain properties that we market on behalf of a landlord. Properties will be clearly marked when housing benefit applications are acceptable on a property. If a certain property will allow housing benefit applications then this will be marked on the property listing. Any housing benefit applications will be subject to the FULL application process being fulfilled. You will be required to provide proof of any benefits that you receive in order for Letultimate.com to complete a full assessment.
Tenant on Housing Benefit
If
you are a tenant who is in receipt of housing benefit in order to pay their
rent to a private landlord then you may be eligible to apply for certain
properties that we market on behalf of a landlord. Any properties that are
available for housing benefit applications will be clearly marked.
If you do see a suitable property
that accepts housing benefit applications then you are eligible to make your
application on line. You will be required to provide identification to our
agency so a thorough assessment can be completed.
In addition to this you will be
required to pay the bond on a property along with the first months rent in
advance. This is payable as standard. Then by the time your next rental payment
is due, usually one month after moving into the property your housing benefit
claim should be processed and in payment status. This would ensure that you new
rental account obligations are maintained in full and without
complication. Letultimate.com may require a GUARANTOR for any tenants who are in receipt of housing benefit. If a GUARANTOR is required then they will also need to provide identification to us and go through the credit scoring process. An additional charge may be applied to the application fee if a GUARANTOR is required.
When you have submitted your housing
benefit claim
When
you submit your housing benefit claim to the relevant benefits office you will
be required to provide Letultimate.com with a copy of the receipt proving that
your claim has been handed in to be processed. You must also ensure that you
select the option to provide authorisation for your landlord to make enquiries
on the claim progress.
When your housing benefit claim has been processed
When
you housing benefit claim has been processed you will need to provide
Letultimate.com with a copy of the benefit award letter or benefit decision
notice. This is soLetultimate.com is aware of the rental entitlement that you
are going to receive. It is important that you pay the funds that you receive
from housing benefit to us in FULL. In the past tenants who are in receipt of
housing benefit have failed to pay the full amount of entitlement to us that
they have received. Housing benefit funds are solely for the purpose to pay
your rental account and are not issued to fund your lifestyle as a tenant.
Therefore
we do require a copy of the award entitlement which details the amount of
rental that you are in receipt of. This would ensure that Letultimate.com is
assisting you in managing your rent account with us. If you fail to provide
such evidence that your property application may be withdrawn at anytime and
without notice so it is important that you provide the required documentation
to our office without delay.
Housing Benefit tenant application process
If
you apply for a rental property that does accept housing benefit applications
then you will need to provide the requested identification to our office. In
addition to this you will also need to provide proof of any benefits that you
receive. We appreciate that tenants may be in receipt of more than one benefit
type. Therefore, you must declare the full amount of benefits that you are
currently in receipt of and you must provide proof of such benefits so your
tenancy application can be fully assessed. The usual identification that we may
ask for is as follows:
· Your latest 3 months bank statements or post office account
statements – Internet copies are accepted
· A recent utility bill for the property you are currently
residing in
· A copy of your UK passport or drivers license
· Proof of any benefits that you are in receipt of whether it
be job seekers allowance,disability living allowance, child tax credits, family
tax credits and so on
If
you are unable to provide any of the above then please advise Letultimate.com
of this as we may be able to accept alternative documents from you for
processing your application.
Sending your Identification to Letultimate.com
There
are various ways in which you can submit the required identification to
Letultimate.com. You can email this to enquiries@ultimatehomesandfinance.co.uk or fax it
to 01642 796657. You can also post your ID to the address below. If sending ID
through the postal system then, please ensure that you send photocopies only
and not originals:
Letultimate.com,
Durham Tees Valley Business Centre, Suite 25, Orde Wingate Way, Stockton on
Tees, TS19 0GD
If
you prefer to hand these documents into our office in person then please
contact us on 01642 796661 in order to make an appointment.
Payment of housing benefit
Payments
for housing benefit are now paid direct to the tenant when a new claim is
submitted. It is a condition of your tenancy that you maintain your rental
account with Letultimate.com by standing order on a monthly basis. If your
tenancy is agreed then you will be provided with a standing order form to set
up with your nominated bank account provider. It is your responsibility to
ensure that the standing order is set up. The standing order form will also
quote a reference number which you have to advise your bank with. This is to
ensure that we can allocate your payment received to your rental account.
Suspension of housing benefit claim
If
your claim is at any point suspended then you must inform Letultimate.com of
this without delay. As you receive housing benefit payments direct you will be
informed of this fact by the relevant benefits office if this situation occurs.
Therefore,
Letultimate.com will not be aware if there is a problem regarding the housing
benefit payments as we do not get informed of this by the benefits office. You
must inform us straight away if there is a problem with your housing benefit as
this will affect your ability to pay and maintain your rental account with us.
If you do not inform us with plenty of notice then this is not looked upon favorably
by Letultimate.com as you would of, failed to notify us with reasonable notice
that this has happened. It is in your own interests to communicate with
Letultimate.com and keep us informed of any potential problems that could
affect your ability to pay your rent account.
Letultimate.com
has to inform the relevant landlord of any delays to payments that they could
expect to receive. If you can appreciate landlords also have credit commitments
such as the mortgage on the property you are renting that they still have to
pay. Therefore, they need to be made aware if there is ever a problem with
rental payments as this has a knock on effect for both the agent and the
landlord. The better you communicate with us the more we will be able to help.
Letultimate.com
will assist all tenants wherever possible but we do need good communications to
be maintained between agent, tenant and landlord. Letultimate.com cannot stress
enough the importance of making us aware of any situation that would affect
your ability to pay your rent as a tenant.
