Sharing Information

Sometimes, sharing information with you helps us to deal with your tenant's claim quickly. It may also reduce the risk of your tenant falling behind with their rent because their claim is delayed. We can share information with you only if your tenant has agreed.

Under the Data Protection Act we need the tenant's permission to share information.

The information we can share with you, if we have permission, is:

• whether or not your tenant has claimed housing benefit and, if so, whether we have made a decision on their claim or not; and
• whether we need more information to make a decision on your tenant's claim, and if so what information this is.

We may need to check with you other information about your tenant's claim, such as the date their tenancy started, before we can make a decision on their claim. If so, we may ask you even if your tenant has not given us permission to discuss their claim with you.

We cannot give you information about:

• your tenant's personal or household circumstances; or
• your tenant's financial circumstances.

For us to share information with you, your tenant needs to give us written permission by ticking a box on the claim form or giving us a permission letter.

If your tenant's Housing Benefit is suspended or stopped and we are paying you directly then we will send you a letter to tell you.

Page last reviewed 2 Sep 2009