Landlord focus group
Contact officer: Brian Borthwick, Revenues and Benefits service client officer
Tel: 0151 225 2164
Email: Brian.Borthwick@liverpool.gov.uk
Start date: 1 April 2007
End date: 31 March 2008
Purpose of the exercise:
To inform landlords of any changes in regulations and receive feedback from them on current policies.
Who was consulted and how:
Quarterly meetings were held with landlords who rent out properties within the private sector and advice bureaux in Liverpool.
Who were the results of the exercise be reported to:
The results were reported to the Benefits manager and the Revenues and Benefits service client officer
What were the findings of the exercise:
The Revenue and Benefits service, including one stop shop and Liverpool Direct contact centre staff, held quarterly meetings during 2007/08 with advice bureaux and private sector landlords in Liverpool. The meetings were used to brief landlords about any changes to benefit legislation before it comes into force. For example, in April 2008 there will be a major change in the benefit entitlement for housing called the local housing allowance (LHA). The focus group has received several briefings on the introduction of LHA and the potential impacts it may have on its members. The focus group's views on the changes will also be fed back to central government as part of the consultation that the government has asked local authorities to undertake on the changes to the housing benefit system.
What are the changes to the service brought about as a result of the consultation:
The focus group allows the briefing of private sector landlords and advice bureaux on benefit changes at a local level. It is hoped that as a result of the focus group's meetings the introduction of the LHA will be implemented effectively and the group will continue during 2008/09 to feedback comments on its introduction.