Council housing tenants in Stirling will be given more help to avoid rent arrears

The Council's Executive has agreed that early intervention and more face-to-face contact with tenants is the best way forward to help people from falling in to arrears.

Changes in the way the Council's Housing Services approaches and monitors rent arrears is part of Stirling Council's decision, in June this year, to end the practice of evictions in response to rent arrears.

The Council's Housing Service carried out an extensive review of its arrears procedures to help tenants avoid arrears in the first place and to provide support and advice to vulnerable tenants.

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The Housing Service will now offer advice and support to people even before they are offered a house.

People on the housing waiting list will be given advice on their tenancy obligations and support to complete benefit applications.

Two new Settling in Officers will continue to support tenants in the early stages of their tenancy or as long as is needed.

Support plans will be put in place for anyone needing more assistance. Council Income Maximisation Officers will work with new tenants to make sure they get expert help to access all the money they’re entitled to.

Executive Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Housing Strategy Councillor Alasdair MacPherson welcoming the Executive’s decision said: "These new proposals are a significant step forward in changing the historical way we communicate with our tenants.

"We want to address any problems before tenants get into difficulties and these new proposals do just that. Our Housing Service worked with Shelter, Citizen Advice Bureaux and the Scottish Housing Regulator to ensure all aspects of the tenants welfare are at the centre of this new culture of prevention and support."

(GK/KMcA)