Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has had recent discussions with social landlords who are in the discovery areas of the managed migration to Universal Credit on taking steps to ensure that the landlord portal supports tenants adequately; and if he will make a statement.

The DWP has regular engagement with a number of representatives across the Social Rented Sector (SRS) landlord community, which includes a move to Universal Credit (UC) monthly update. The Universal Credit Landlord Portal allows social rented sector landlords to verify rent and submit managed payment requests online, rather than by email.

The Portal is offered to SRS landlords with Trusted Partner status. Trusted Partners are registered social landlords (including stock owning local authorities) that have made an agreement with DWP. They have agreed to support their tenants, where possible with financial and personal budgeting. In exchange they are allowed to request an Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA, previously known as MPTL) for their tenants whenever they identify a need and DWP will implement them without challenge.