RECOVERY OF HOUSING BENEFIT FROM LANDLORDS

Early day motion 111, tabled 13 December 2000 by Steve Webb (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 42 members.

That this House welcomes the Government's intention to replace the current system of internal reviews of housing benefit decisions by individual local authorities with a new, more robust, independent appeal mechanism; notes that local authorities will retain the right to reclaim benefit overpayments from third parties, such as landlords, where payments are made directly; is concerned, however, that the practice of allowing these third parties to appeal such decisions will be excluded from the new procedure; calls on the Government to recognise that it is unjust to demand repayment of fraudulently claimed or incorrectly paid benefits direct from landlords, who are unable to know this is taking place, without a right of appeal and asks that such a right be included in regulations when they are laid before the House.

Signatures by party: Labour 21, Liberal Democrat 18, Conservative 1, Independent 1, Labour/Co-operative 1.