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Rental properties where tenants are entitled to Housing Benefit from NIHE

Find out about liability for rates if your private tenants receive Housing Benefit from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE).

Liability for rates

Most landlords are responsible for the collection and payment of rates. If the rates are not paid, Land & Property Services (LPS) will seek to recover them from the landlord.  

More information can be found by following the link below:

You can also contact LPS Central Landlords Team directly. Contact details are as follows:

Tenants who receive Housing Benefit from NIHE

Some private tenants are entitled to Housing Benefit from NIHE. Housing Benefit is usually for rent but may also include a rates element.  Depending on the tenant's circumstances, they may be entitled to have some or all of the rates paid by NIHE.

When the tenant completes their Housing Benefit claim form, they choose where to have their benefit paid. It can be paid directly to the tenant, to the landlord, or in the case of rates it can also be paid directly to LPS.

If you believe that your tenant may be entitled to Housing Benefit you must liaise directly with NIHE.

You can get more information on Housing Benefit from NIHE using the following link:

Contact details for NIHE can be found using the following link:

What does this mean for landlords whose tenants are entitled to NIHE Housing Benefit?

LPS would advise landlords to pay their rates in full by the due date specified on their bill. It would also advise that the landlord asks NIHE to make any Housing Benefit payments directly to themselves rather than the tenant or LPS.

LPS offers allowances to landlords who pay their rates in full by the date specified on the bills. For more information about the allowances available to landlords please follow the links below:

There can be a delay in processing claims for Housing Benefit.  If this delay means that your rates are not paid by the due date specified on your bill, you will not be entitled to your allowance and LPS may start recovery action against you to ensure that the rates are paid.

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