HMO landlords and their tenants will both miss out on the �150 Council Tax Energy Rebate payment, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has announced.

In a written question, DLUHC select committee chair Clive Betts (pictured) asked it to clarify whether a landlord can keep the payment when their name appears on a council tax direct debit and where they are also the liable person - but where the tenant pays rent including council tax.

Minister Paul Scully (main picture) replied: 'Where the liable council taxpayer for a chargeable dwelling does not occupy the property, for example in a house in multiple occupation or residential care home, nobody will be eligible for the rebate in relation to that property. Councils can consider supporting occupants in these circumstances through their discretionary fund.'�

About 20 million households in council tax bands A to D '� including 95% of rented properties '� will benefit from the �3 billion council tax rebate, which does not have to be repaid.

HMO tenants

But scores of households across the country who don't pay their council tax by direct debit will not automatically receive the cash, such as tenants in HMOs.

Earlier this year, Betts urged the government to ensure HMO and other '�all inclusive' landlords couldn't pocket multiple council tax rebates under the scheme.

The government has also ruled that under its imminent Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) '� giving domestic electricity customers a �400 discount - landlords who resell energy to their tenants (where fixed energy costs are included in their rental charges) should pass the discounted payments on appropriately, in line with Ofgem rules to protect tenants.