Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what (a) compensation and (b) redress is available to landlords who incur rent arrears as a result of (i) delays and (ii) administrative errors in implementing Managed Payments to Landlords.

Where it is considered to be in the claimant’s best interests, those who are vulnerable or who have accumulated arrears may have their rent payments sent direct to their landlords. Rent is a contractual agreement between a tenant and their landlord, which DWP is not party to. These administrative arrangements do not interfere with that contractual relationship and the tenant remains responsible for meeting their rental liabilities.

In general, there is no compensation available to landlords if errors or delays lead to arrears of rent as this would absolve them and the claimant of their responsibilities. The landlord remains responsible for pursuing any rent arrears in the normal way.

In cases of maladministration the Department may consider redress which may take the form of an apology, an explanation of what happened and what has been done to rectify matters or corrective action. In cases where an individual landlord is personally engaged in the management of their property(ies) and in the administration of their tenants’ rents and maladministration has caused an injustice or hardship, financial redress can be considered. Such payments are non-statutory and discretionary.