ANGRY landlords are poised to take Burnley Council to court over delays in housing benefit payments which they claim have taken some people to the point of bankruptcy.

They say they are losing a fortune in rent because the council's benefits service has a 20-week backlog in processing tenants' claims.

The Burnley and Pendle-based East Lancashire Landlords' Association say tenants, who normally have their rents paid via the benefits system but who are now receiving payment demands from the council, may join them in county court and High Court actions.

Association secretary and chief executive John Sharpe said any legal action would be costly but his 40 members who own around 2,000 rented properties, were now minded to go to litigation because they felt they had no choice.

"We feel the only thing we can do is sue them in court and that is probably the way we will go.

"Vast amounts of money are being lost and some landlords are struggling to survive," he added.

The Association decided to take action after inviting a leading expert on benefits issues to a special meeting in Burnley this week.

Said Mr Sharpe: "He was appalled by the situation in Burnley and Pendle which he said was atrocious. He pointed out that councils are required by law to make interim benefits payments after 14 day and the authorities are just not doing this." Mr Sharpe said it was also clear that the councils were wrong when they demanded repayment of overpaid rent benefits from landlords when it was found the tenants had been cheating by claiming support when they were working.

"The councils are sending out big bills to landlords who had been paid directly and they are not going through the proper procedures.

"This has cost some of our members a terrible amount of money and it is wrong."

Burnley's council benefits and housing offices were inundated with complaints after sending out 2,000 demands for unpaid rents -- many because of the log-jam in the benefits processing system.

The delays have also caused a political row, with council critics questioning why the backlog had not been reduced despite the council's announcement in March that it would plough an extra £200,000 into improving the system.

A council spokesman said interviews for 16 extra benefits officers were taking place and the situation would soon improve.