Tenant confidentiality
A confidential relationship exists between the Council and the
claimant.
The law states that we cannot give information to a
landlord as this may breach the confidential nature of Housing
Benefit. The Council cannot tell a landlord if a tenant has
made a claim or is receiving benefit. This data is controlled by
the Data Protection Act 2000. We can give you some information if
payments are being made direct to you.
However, the Council appreciates your co-operation as it needs
to be informed if, for example, a tenant is not paying rent. If
Housing Benefit is being paid to a tenant it can be suspended and
in some cases it may even be paid directly to you.
The Council must abide by the confidentiality ruling and unless
Housing Benefit is being paid direct to you as landlord no
information about a claim can be divulged to you without written
permission from your tenant. Even where benefit is being paid
direct to you, only limited information can be disclosed. Details
concerning the personal circumstances of the claimant cannot be
discussed under any circumstances.