Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the cost of operating a paper-based system for private sector landlords to request direct payment for their tenants' housing elements of universal credit?

The Department is keeping the process for managed payment to landlords under review as we test and learn from the roll out of Universal Credit. We are also working with landlords to improve the current process for landlords requesting managed payments and how the Department deals with these requests.

In May 2016, 34% of Universal Credit claimants with support for housing costs and in social housing had a managed payment to landlord alternative payment arrangement, compared to only 5% for those in private rented accommodation.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/543907/universal-credit-data-on-alternative-payment-arrangements.pdf