Hi Nadia,
Im not sure which system you use, but we are using Acadmey and if we set up a brand new claim we can not suspend until a payment has been made.
Has the claimant requested landlord direct? As you have only mentioned the landlord requesting this.
For stats purposes it would be a good idea to set up the award and send the payments to the claimant, unless you have any reasons that the claimant should not receive the payments.
Have you considered making the first payment to the claimant in the name of the landlord or letting agent. I believe that your case would be ok for this as you can be of the opinion that the claimant has not already paid the landlord for the period of entitlement as landlord direct has been requested, and it would be in the interest of efficient administration to get the claim into payment. A bit long winded sorry about that.
Hope this helps, but will enjoy seeing any other views.