This report sets out current learning from the Commission's inspections, audits and research on preventing and managing council housing rent arrears.
The main aims of this report, which covers the local authority sector in England and Wales, are to help councils to:
- understand the scale, causes and effects of rent arrears, and the impact of their responses
- prevent arrears from accumulating in the first place
- effectively recover arrears
- deliver more tenant-focused services.
- improve working relations between housing and HB services
- strengthen management arrangements
- identify and share good practice
The report is aimed primarily at councillors and officers who are responsible for rent collection, tenancy management and HB administration. It will also interest finance and social services staff and external advice and support agencies. The report is not a detailed good practice manual, although its does include many examples of positive practice drawn from inspection, audit and research reports and other sources. It also draws on evidence from visits to local authorities and discussions with key national organisations, such as the Local Government Association (LGA) and Citizens Advice.