**** Under construction until 23/9/9, so bear with me! Thanks ****

LHA/ Housing Benefit Training for landlords

** Refer to WELCOME PAGE for start & finish times **

Paul Galbraith has been operating ‘full time’ in the social housing business since in Leeds, West Yorkshire since the introduction of Local Housing Allowance (LHA) back in 2003. Leeds was a government pathfinder trial area & national implementation of the LHA scheme took place in April 2008. Due to operating a property business in a government trial area he has 5 years more experience than those based in the rest of the UK in regards dealing with LHA as a landlord. He has provided independent consulatation for Leeds City Council & spent 4 years attending ‘closed shop’ council meetings as a consultant/ private landlord representative, often as the only external body not employed by the council.

Due to demand which came about from providing private consultancy to landlords with LHA management issues, a comprehensive 1 day training course has been put together for landlords & property owners who are interested in/ or already operate at this end of the market. The core intention of the course is to teach the skills required to successfully manage LHA rentals & give the attendee tools to create a profitable business. Topics covered are:

The basic mechanics of why social housing is a good investment opportunity & the types of property to select – recession proof your rental income

Background to LHA
What is Local Housing Allowance & how is it different to Housing Benefit
What does the LHA scheme cover

Who can claim LHA?
Eligible rent
Rent restrictions
Non dependents
The applicable amount
What is classed as income?

LHA rates
How LHA is calculated
Who decides the LHA rates
Where & when are they published

Welfare benefits & managing your tenants claim
Making claims – who is eligible to claim, the date of claim & date of entitlement
Interim payments, payments on account – ie. get paid within 14 days, you DO NOT need to wait 6-8 weeks for payment of a new claim.
What paperwork a landlord should hand into the benefits office (template letters are given in the course handbook).
Extended payments of LHA & Council Tax Benefit
Backdating claims
Temporary abscences – the 13 & 52 week rules

Getting paid rent as a LHA landlord
LHA payments direct to the landord
Housing vulnerable & homeless tenants – work with local councils/ charities
Protocol for rent arrears
Credit unions as a method of rent collection
Deposits & the tenancy deposit scheme – damage liability guarantees with your local council
Delegating management of properties to RSL’s – get 3-5 year rental contracts.

Management of LHA claims
LHA on 2 properties
Overpayments of LHA & how to challenge via. appeals
Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP’s)
LHA Fraud
Changes of Circumstance
The Housing Benefit Decision-Making & Appeals system
Decisions, Determinations & obtaining written information
Time Limits, Guidance & Withheld Decisions
Revising and Superseding Decisions

Housing benefit & SARB property deals

How to protect your address as a landlord

Increasing your income through housing LHA tenants – the money making part !!
How to obtain above market rent, achieve yields of 10%-300% above market. We currently generate £1,625pcm rent for £120k properties where the market rent is £600pcm. This is for a family let, not a HMO

Converting houses into studio flats/ modern bedsits – earn up to 30% yield on a property.
* With special guest Amanda Brown from www.PDS.uk.com talking about planning permission & converting property.

Example: split an £80k property into 4 units, generating £1.8kpcm (£450per unit). Own the property ‘outright’ in 3.7 years if you spend non of the rental profit. 27% yield. £1.5kpcm profit after a paying 70% interest only mortgage at 6% & paying the buildings insurance. The council are desperate for this kind of accomodation – voids are not an issue!

Doing lease option deals with LHA

Grants available to landlords
Get free central heating for your property
Take advantage of government grants to reduce your refurbishment costs

Housing Associations – get paid regardless of occupancy.