Housing benefit payments

If you are a private tenant we usually pay Housing Benefit directly into your bank account every two weeks, on a Friday. If you are a council tenant your Housing Benefit will be credited to your rent account. If we pay your landlord direct, we pay her/him every four weeks in arrears.

Private tenants

The date we pay you might be different to the date your rent is due, and we pay you two weeks in arrears. It is your responsibility to manage your finances and pay your landlord.

Your first Housing Benefit payment will be on the first scheduled payment date after it has been assessed.

If you do not have a bank account for us to make payments to, please contact Runnymede and Spelthorne Citizens Advice Bureau

Payments directly to landlords

You can ask us to make payments direct to your landlord if you are having difficulty managing your own finances. Both you, as the tenant, and your landlord will need to complete and sign a direct payment form

  Landlord direct payment form

Your landlord must agree to tell us of any change in your circumstances and repay any overpayments.

If we agree to pay the landlord direct we will do so every four weeks in arrears.