Welfare Reform Bill

49: After Clause 11, insert the following new Clause— ““Payment of housing costs (1) This section applies to payments of the housing cost element of the universal credit. (2) Payment of the housing cost element of the universal credit must be made to a person’s landlord where that person has requested or consented to such payment in agreement with their landlord. (3) Regulations made by the Secretary of State may prescribe the circumstances in which subsection (2) does not apply. (4) Regulations made by the Secretary of State shall prescribe the person who is to be treated as the landlord for the purposes of this section and shall make provision as to the discharge of liability consequent upon the making of any payments to the landlord.””