We all went on HB training re verification before we transferred over to the RSL...

I have been informed today that the rents team can no longer validate documents for HB purposes as there is a conflict of interest..?

However, the local services staff are are able to validate still.. Does anyone know what exactly this conflict could be and how other staff are able to without there beng a conflict...

Thanks.. x

It's really quite simple (if a bit insulting)....

If your job is collecting rent (especially when HB paid direct to L/L) there is a theoretical motivation to ensure a tenant's claim is successful to improve rent figures or clear arrears. (the implication is this motivation could be stronger than, how shall I put it, being completely ethical).

Staff without rent responsibility are held not to be in danger of getting this motivation.

So a tax collector who may think, perhaps correctly, that collecting more tax may reduce the tax he has to pay as an individual (on the basis that if tax is avoided then each person paying tax has to pay more to compensate), will have a conflict of interest then?