It said that tenants must be given the choice for their housing benefit to be paid directly to their landlord.
The RLA said many tenants are falling into arrears and want the security of knowing their rent is paid, with 45% of landlords who would not re-let to social housing tenants citing the reason as lack of guaranteed payments.
The RLA said that 95% of tenants who want the option are struggling to manage their finances and it called on the government to take note of the issue as the Welfare Reform Bill makes it way through parliament.
Alan Ward, chairman of the RLA, said: “As the government pursues an agenda of consumer and user empowerment and choice, the RLA is calling on the same principles to be applied to the private rented sector, with greater freedoms for tenants to choose what best meets their individual needs.
“We call on MPs to use the Welfare Reform Bill to enshrine in legislation the freedom and right for tenants to choose, without forcing landlords to lower rents, making renting untenable for many.”
