Some clients, who are jointly liable for UC housing costs have problems when a joint tenant leaves. The DWP might not treat the remaining tenant as liable for the absent tenant's share of rent liability even though they are paying the rent in full(an untidy tenancy). The law allows clients to be treated as liable where it is reasonable to do so.
The National Housing Federation state that the DWP say- 'On 23 June 2020 a new ‘Record a change in joint tenancy costs’ to-do was introduced to Universal Credit Full Service, which ensures cases are automatically correctly paid each month without the need for manual payments or continued claimant intervention...A claimant can report this in their journal or phone. If the claimant declares new housing costs they will need to inform us again of their circumstances. The claimant will get a journal message to tell them this.
New guidance has been issued to Work Coaches and Case Managers to make them aware of the changes....Work Coaches and Case Managers are reminded that they must not:
Ask the claimant to re-declare housing costs as a single tenancy, unless there is a genuine change of circumstances. Make a housing declaration on behalf of the claimant that it is a single tenancy.
Ask the claimant to get a new tenancy from their landlord or a landlord letter to confrm the claimant is solely liable.'