A vulnerable tenant is someone who may have difficulty managing their money. This could include someone who does not want to pay their rent. The following are people who may have problems paying their rent:

• someone with learning disabilities;
• someone who suffers from a medical condition e.g. dementia, terminal illness etc.;
• someone with a drug, alcohol or gambling addiction;
• someone with serious problems reading and writing;
• someone who does not speak English;
• someone who has suffered domestic violence;
• someone who has recently been released from prison;
• someone with severe debt problems;
• someone who has been declared bankrupt;
• someone who is unable to open a bank account;
• someone with a history of homelessness;
• someone with a history of non-payment of rent.
• written evidence from a Doctor, Social Worker, Support Worker etc.;
• written evidence from Support Groups, Social Services, Care Workers etc.;
• written evidence from the Prison or Probation Service;
• written evidence from Debt Advisors, Solicitors, Creditors etc.;
• letter from Trustees, Court Orders etc.;
• letter from Bank or Money Advisor;
• rent records and letters proving attempts to collect money or evidence from a previous Landlord.
• that the rent is affordable to help a tenant secure a tenancy.

By completing a Direct Payment to Landlord application form. You need to provide evidence that the tenant is vulnerable.

Examples of evidence:

• written evidence from a Doctor, Social Worker, Support Worker etc.
• written evidence from Support Groups, Social Services, Care Workers etc.
• written evidence from the Prison or Probation Service
• written evidence from Debt Advisors, Solicitors, Creditors etc.
• letter from Trustees, Court Orders etc.
• letter from a Bank or Money Advisor
• rent records and letters proving attempts to collect money or evidence from a previous Landlord.

We can pay LHA directly to the landlord if we agree that the rent is affordable to help a tenant secure a tenancy. This should be at or near to the Local Housing Allowance rate.

This is to provide an incentive for Landlords to keep rent at an affordable level.

You can apply to have LHA paid directly to you by completing the Direct Payment of LHA for available to download at the bottom of this page.

It is the tenant's responsibility to pay rent to their landlord.

Local Housing Allowance can be made direct to the Landlord, if the tenant is 8 weeks or more in arrears with their rent payment.