A social enterprise that offers guaranteed rent to private landlords of housing benefit tenants across Surrey is hosting a free seminar in Cobham.

The seminar is aimed to help property owners get to grips with the changing welfare landscape.

Ethical Lettings, based in Dorking, will host the event after an increase in the number of enquiries from private landlords with a social conscience.

The lettings company said clients wanted to let to tenants on housing benefit but were put off by recent changes to the way benefits are paid and the risks involved in the sector.

Georgina Summerfield, director of Ethical Lettings, said: “Surrey landlords are telling us that they simply haven’t been given enough information about how they will be affected by the latest welfare reform changes.

“The reality is that the household benefit cap is already leading to some Surrey landlords in receipt of direct housing benefit payments losing up to £250 per week in rent arrears and as housing benefit is typically paid monthly in arrears, landlords are only now beginning to notice shortfalls in rent.

“What’s more, the landscape is only going to get more complicated for landlords with the planned national roll out of Universal Credit, where a claimant’s benefit will be paid ‘salary-like’, directly to them once a month in a lump sum.”

Landlords are invited to attend the free event on September 11, from 7pm at Cobham Curve, Fairmile Lane, Cobham, where speakers will give an overview of welfare reform, how it will affect private landlords and their tenants and provide advice on how landlords can prepare.

To attend, RSVP to info@ethical-lettings.com and for more information visit ethical-lettings.com.