Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he make an assessment of the potential merits of allocating the payment of rent arrears directly from benefits.

Landlords can apply for rent arrears to be deducted from Universal Credit. Rent arrears deductions can only be made when certain criteria are met – the claimant must receive the housing element of Universal Credit or housing benefit, the amount of arrears accrued must be equal to the amount of two months’ rent, and it must relate to the property where the claimant currently resides.

Rent arrears have a minimum deduction rate each month of 10 per cent of the claimant’s Universal Credit standard allowance and a maximum deduction rate of up to 20 per cent per month.