NLA calls for more support for landlords over late payments

The government should make immediate and considerable changes to Local Housing Allowance (LHA) in order to help landlords cope with late payments, it has been suggested.

According to the National Landlords Association (NLA) - which claims to represent more than 18,000 members - total rent arrears could be as high as £220 million across the UK.

With a rising number of property owners being put under financial pressure because of payment failures, there is "no time to lose", it claimed.

The organisation says that the LHA, which sees rent paid to tenants who qualify for the benefit rather than the landlords who are supposed to eventually receive it, is causing problems.

In many cases, those renting homes are failing to transfer the money to landlords, it asserted.

NLA chairman David Salusbury said: "The government must bring forward [its] planned review of LHA as soon as possible."

"The reality is that both tenants and landlords are losing out under the current rules," he added.
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08/12/2009 17:08

News category: Property

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