RLA Universal Credit/LHA Course

The digital system completely removes the "gateway" conditions which have so far operated to restrict claims (225,000 nationwide) to mainly single unemployed claimants. Removing barriers will immediately increase, quite dramatically, the number and type of claimants, including families, people with disabilities, who can claim. The digital system also operates under different rules with claims being made, in the majority of cases, online, whereas current claims are mainly processed by DWP staff operating in Jobcentres. The roll-out will prove exceptionally challenging for Private Landlords as your tenants can expect little or no support from DWP or local advice agencies who are already swamped with benefit issues.

How will the new scheme differ from LHA? The answer is, in more ways than you could ever have anticipated, so it's vitally important you familiarise yourself with all its component parts and complexities. If you do you're less likely to experience the rental losses already experienced by many of our members!

This Universal Credit course has been specifically tailored for PRS landlords & agents. It is designed to highlight key areas of the new scheme and how it compares with LHA. This will include: how the new benefit will be assessed, and paid; how changes will affect the award and payments; the likely effect this will have on your tenant's; your own collection arrangements, rental income and rent arrears control.

Dealing with a remote and ambivalent DWP has been challenging to say the least. The new administration process places an emphasis on tenants making their claim online; providing supporting documentation in an electronic format; being forced to make a "claimant commitment" before payment commences and cope with the effect of sanctions when they're applied. There is NO facility to apply for help with the housing element on a "NIL income" basis as there is with LHA. All changes in circumstances have to be notified online and failure to do so immediately can attract penalties where overpayments occur. Something called the "whole month rule" can produce unexpected rental losses which will affect the tenant's ability to meet their contractual liability.

Course Content:

• When, where and how the digital system will be introduced.
• Who will be able to claim it, now & in the future.
• How it will be claimed and how you can assist in that process.
• How claims will be assessed, with various examples of the calculation methodology.
• How & when it will be paid, including the use of bank and Credit Union accounts.
• What about backdating; changes in circumstances; penalties for late reporting - how will these differ from LHA?
• Landlord Managed Payments - how to apply for these and rent arrears deductions?
• How the "payment exceptions" provisions can be used to have payments redirected and public funds protected; how these differ again from LHA!
• Conditionality & sanctions - how this might affect the tenant's willingness to co-operate.
• UC Sanctions - how these could dramatically affect your ability to secure your tenant's "housing element".
• How to continue maximising your tenant's legal entitlement to LHA through having a hands-on approach and comprehensive knowledge of the existing scheme which will still be operating in 2019 if not later.

Throughout the day we will encourage delegate participation. We use practical exercises and case studies, drawn from the "live" sites and Digital Pilots, to highlight the main features of Universal Credit. There will be plenty of time for discussion of issues and concerns around both UC and LHA. Ultimately, the tutor will aim to ensure delegates are well informed on how to use the law to best effect and reduce the potential for rental income loss.