Rent Arrears Policy - Section 3

3. Objectives and Principles of the Policy

3.1 The overall aim of the Rent Arrears Policy is to minimise the level of rent arrears in a sensitive but effective manner.

3.2 The specific objectives of the Rent Arrears Policy are:

To assist with the prevention of homelessness and ensure that other corporate obligations such as Child or Adult Protection are recognised within the operation of the policy;
To ensure that all legal requirements have been met before taking any legal action, including pre-action requirement conditions;
To offer early appropriate professional support and guidance to tenants to minimise rent arrears in response to their specific needs and circumstances;
To work with other Council services and agencies to ensure that appropriate support and assistance is delivered to tenants and their families, that risks are identified and agreed outcomes met;
To monitor levels of rent arrears and have early intervention mechanisms in place which prevent rent arrears arising;
To ensure that tenants are given relevant information about entitlement to welfare benefits/income maximisation services and to encourage optimum take up from tenants; and
To maintain contact with tenants to ensure effective communications and ensure tenants meet their statutory responsibilities for the payment of rent.

3.3 The above objectives will be achieved by implementing the following principles:

The Council's rent arrears management service is fair, open and transparent;
The Council promotes joint working where necessary with other Council Departments and external agencies with appropriate agreements;
Detailed procedures and agreed practices are applied uniformly and cross the service;
Staff training is provided to ensure that staff are equipped to carry out the roles expected of them in a consistent way;
All communication with tenants and service users is in “plain language”, will be clear, concise, simple to understand and free of jargon and will make clear who the appropriate officer is to contact in the case of queries;
That tenants are supported where appropriate to meet their tenancy responsibilities to pay their rent; and
The Council will research and prepare for any changes in legislation which may affect tenants’ abilities to pay their rent and ensure that appropriate responses are considered by elected members. For example, developing responses to Welfare Reform.