East Dunbartonshire Council's crackdown on rent arrears is continuing to pay off as new figures reveal that almost £500,000 has now been recovered from current and former tenants in the last five years.

The latest figures reveal that from April 2004 to March 2009, the Council recouped £461,962 in rent arrears - a reduction of 56%.

In the last year, the amount owed by current tenants has been cut from £257,953 to £226,623, a fall of £31,330. Rent owed by former tenants has also fallen by £9,904, from £373,138 to £363,234. This makes a total of £41,234 secured from current and former tenants from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009.

During the same period, the Sheriff Court awarded the Council 67 decrees for eviction. Following this legal action, nine tenants who made no effort to clear their arrears were evicted, 16 cleared their accounts and 21 made payment arrangements with the Council.

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Commenting on the figures, Councillor Michael O'Donnell, Convener of the Social Services Committee, said: "Recovering almost half a million pounds in rent arrears in the last five years is clearly good news and is testament to the Council’s firm but fair approach in tackling the problem.

"Rent arrears are a burden on everyone so it's essential that we pursue the minority of tenants who refuse to pay rent or make any effort to tackle their arrears because this is money that pays for repairs and improvements to tenants' Council homes. It's unfair that the majority of tenants who pay their rent every week have to subsidise those that don't.

"It is also important that former tenants don't simply walk away from their responsibilities and debts and that’s why we go to a lot of trouble to track people down and make arrangements for them to pay what they rightly owe."

Cllr O'Donnell added that if tenants have genuine financial difficulties the council can help them by setting up affordable and realistic payment arrangements.

"We have dedicated teams on hand at each of our housing offices who can help with this so please call or visit us for assistance. Please remember we are here to help first and foremost, and your circumstances will be treated in the strictest confidence."

(GK/JM)