Angus Council claws back more rent arrears cash.

HOUSING: Small reduction but debt still stands at more than £2.3 million

Angus housing chiefs are making inroads into tackling the area’s sevenfigure rent arrears problem.

The last financial year saw the authority record a marginal dip in the total due from existing and ex-tenants, but the sum still stands at more than £2.3 million.

Angus is one of a small number of councils which has managed to secure a reduction.

The progress was welcomed by councillors yesterday, but they also sought assurances that a tight rein would be kept on the situation amid continuing fears that the impact of Universal Credit could tip struggling families over the financial precipice.

The latest rent arrears figures presented to Angus policy and resources committee revealed a £1,187,175 current arrears total at the end of March.

Allied to £1,171,191 arrears due from former tenants, the financial end-ofyear position was around £140,000 better than the previous year, with a total caseload of 5,387 down by more than 450.

The council is handling almost 1,000 Universal Credit arrears cases, totalling in excess of £650,000.

Head of housing Stewart Ball said: “The performance on current rent arrears as a percentage of rent due at week 52 (March 31) is at 7.66% which is a decrease from the 7.74% for 2017.

“This is a good improvement in the current climate given that other authorities have seen increases.

“We are one of only nine councils out of 27 benchmarking partners to have a reduction in arrears over the last year.”

Since January this year, the authority has mounted more than 3,000 actions to recover arrears, including 1,381 visits to tenants or ex-tenants.

During the same period 26 court actions have been taken – 16 leading to decree being awarded by the court, with three evictions reported to councillors.

Monifieth and Sidlaw Conservative councillor Craig Fotheringham said: “The ongoing effort to reduce rent arrears is continuing to pay dividends.

“I appreciate individuals and families face challenges in their daily lives but I welcome the positive steps being taken to avoid evictions.”

Some concern was raised over the delay in the end-of-year position being reported to councillors and they will now received updates on the arrears situation three times per year.

Council strategic director Alan McKeown said: “We are monitoring this on a monthly, weekly and daily basis.”

He said many of the larger arrears cases involved tenants with the most complex needs.

“We realise keeping people in their own house is the best way to try and make sure they have stable and secure lives,” he said.

“This council and its partners are doing a lot of work to keep people in their homes.”

gbrown@thecourier.co.uk

This is a good improvement in the current climate given that other authorities have seen increases. STEWART BALL