Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of enhanced housing benefit was paid to (a) for-profit landlords, (b) not-for-profit landlords and (c) charities in each year since 2010.

We interpret ‘enhanced housing benefit’ as Housing Benefit payable for exempt accommodation (a category of specified accommodation in the Housing Benefit regulations). For Housing Benefit claims assessed as exempt accommodation, we do not hold data on whether a landlord is a not-for-profit organisation or a charity.

DWP does not form contractual relationships with supported housing landlords or charities in relation to Housing Benefit expenditure. Housing Benefit for specified accommodation is typically paid directly to the landlord at the request of the customer.

Housing Benefit regulations for specified accommodation outline that Housing Benefit cannot be paid for claims where the landlord is for-profit.