Record year for rent collections

Date article online: 24/04/2008

What Rochdale Boroughwide Housing RBH describes as a "firm but informative approach" has enabled it to achieve record rent collection rates for 2007/08 – collecting nearly 98% of all the rent due.

Figures released by the housing organisation today show that the target of 97.8% set by Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) was exceeded by RBH - with a collection rate of 97.84%.

Commenting on this performance RBH’s Acting Managing Director, Gareth Swarbrick said: ”This has been another excellent year and I would like to pay tribute to the commitment of our housing management staff who deal with rent arrears cases and to thank the vast majority of tenants for their prompt payments.”

Last year RBH responded to rising personal debt levels across the UK by employing a Benefit and Debt Advisor to help tenants with arrears by ensuring that they receive the full benefit entitlement and to gain access to general money advice. There have also been direct marketing campaigns to remind tenants about paying their rent on time and using non-rent weeks to clear outstanding balances.

This approach will be further developed over the coming year as part of RBH’s new Financial Inclusion strategy, with the organisation planning a range of new initiatives to help tenants access financial services. Details of these new initiatives will be released over the next few months.

Any RBH tenants who are struggling to pay their rent are advised to get in touch with their Housing Officer as soon as the problem arises, to discuss their situation, receive advice and to agree a payment plan.