Universal Credit offering cancellation of direct payment to landlords

Universal Credit

Hello everyone,

I have just had a concerning conversation with a tenant of mine, whom is on universal credit. The tenant has not worked since she rented my property, and has always been in receipt of benefits, with direct payments to myself due to a build up of rent arrears. She informed me that this morning Universal Credit phoned her, and wanted to give her the option of having the rent element paid to her, instead of the landlord. She said that her sister had the same call this morning also.

I know that things are up in the air with COVID at the moment, and am being as flexible as i can with tenants whom have suffered job losses etc, however the few long term benefit tenants that i have, do not appear to have had any issues with their income.

Can anyone shed light on why UC are proactively contacting claimants (who have a history of not paying rent) and are giving the option to have the rent element paid to themselves?

Kind regards,

Claire