Concern over town’s rent arrears figures
Bathgate’s housing office has seen a surge in rent arrears as households have been hit by the effects of the Covid pandemic and the roll-out of Universal Credit.
The town’s Local Area Committee heard a grim list of growing numbers from Lorraine Donnelly as she revealed figures for the period including the initial lockdown.
The arrears position for Bathgate in first quarter of 2020/ 21 was £434,493- an increase of £87,828 on last year’s position.
The number of tenancies in arrears in the ward increased by 63 since last year. Small debt cases (£300 or less), accounted for 54.7 per cent of households.
There were 125 serious arrears cases (+£1000 in arrears). These cases are 14.7 per cent of all households in arrears in this area, containing 54.8 per cent of the debt. Last year Bathgate ward had 53 Universal Credit (UC) households.
Since then the number of UC households has increased by 654.7 per cent.
Figures for the second quarter of the year show arrears in the town to be £444,530, just over £38,000 higher than the same period last year. Mrs Donnelly told the meeting debt levels in Bathgate were similar to Armadale: “I have noticed, as as have my peers, the level of debt everybody is carrying now is much higher. It’s worrying that so many people are carrying that level of debt.”
Housing officers have been working closely with the Advice Shop and Bathgate took part in a pilot scheme and managed to access £ 18,000 worth of discretionary housing payments. This scheme is now being rolled out to other areas.
The report to committee said: “The focus on rent arrears activity has continued to be a weekly priority task for the team and will continue to work with all our tenants in offering the support, advice and assistance. Such assistance includes referrals for money and debt advice, benefit health checks, completion of income and expenditure to help set up a sustainable payment plan and where appropriate, assist with applications for Discretionary Housing Payments.”