Tennant moving from private to SW

[Dely]

My tennant has been in place since 2006, has now lost his job and is in touch with SW for rent allowance. We had a 1 year lease agreement in 2006 which ran out, and then we went month to month from that point. I thought that the PRTB overrode any lease agreement anyway, which is why I didn't get anything signed. The SW are looking for a copy of the rent book or tenants agreement to process the RA request. I don't have a rent book, and just have the 2006 lease which seems to be missing 1 or 2 pages. I would have bank statements showing the rent I received over the years. Any advise on what SW need for this request? Everything above board, PRTB and Tax.

[Buzz lightyear]

Same situation myself, filled in forms for tenants last octber late, got SW letter this week for RA, have completed and posted to SW.

My letting agent says they should collect the RA and continue to pay me as normal. What I don't know is if I need to give them a rent receipt each month or will the lease agreement we re-signed last october be suffice.

They have the lease agreement from year one to allow them cliam RA and didn't realise how important the document was (their previous landlord tenancy for 3 years had no agreement!).

will keep you posted

[Xerxes]

if the payments are being made into your bank account by them in person or transfers that should be ok. rent books are really only used now for landlrds who collect the rent from the tennants in person. transfers and lodgemnts leave a paper trail for proof of payment or non payment

[Dely]

Thanks for the feedback.
Next question - the tennant is now looking for a rent reduction as RA won't cover rent. I don't mind negotiating a reduction, but then am I tied to that new rent for 1 year per PRTB, or can I state that it is a temporary reduction? Is there a limit on how much rent can be increased year on year?
Thanks in advance