Balsall Heath Housing Co-op, Birmingham
Rent Arrears Policy
As a responsible landlord, Balsall Heath Housing Co-op will aim to maximise the rental income of the Co-op and provide an efficient housing management service to tenants.
To achieve this tenants will be contacted at the earliest possible stage about rent arrears; not only by writing letters, but also by carrying out visits to tenants homes and conducting Office appointments, which will be determined by the individual's personal circumstances.
To keep rent arrears to a minimal amount the Co-op will take any necessary action in line with procedure to achieve this aim, a Human Rights Assessment will take place prior to legal action commencing.
Tenants whose rent arrears result in court action being taken against them will be responsible to pay the costs of such action, in addition to their existing arrears.
Following a suspended possession order - if tenants miss 2 consecutive weekly or are 2 weeks late with their monthly payment in accordance to the court order and fail to bring their account up to date within 7 days thereafter - the Co-operative will immediately apply to execute the warrant for eviction.
The Eviction will then only be stopped if a large percentage of arrears are cleared.
Housing Benefit claimants - the Co-op will aim to assist any tenant applying for benefits, by providing advice, obtaining claim forms and assisting Tenants to complete the claims if necessary. If rent arrears are totally due to a housing benefit delay and the benefit department officially confirms this, no action will be taken.
However, claiming housing benefit remains the sole responsibility of the tenant. If a tenant fails to provide the relevant proof of circumstances to the benefit office or fails to make a claim the resulting rent arrears will be the tenant's responsibility to pay and action will be taken against them accordingly. All tenants are expected to provide proof to Moseley & District Housing Officer to ensure the rent arrears procedure is held pending the claim being assessed.
If Tenants leave the Co-operative in Rent Arrears the Co-operative will take all reasonable steps to pursue the debt and will only write off as a bed debt if all reasonable attempts have failed.
Rent arrears have many adverse affects on the Co-operative, as rent is the main source of income. High rent arrears can result in services such as repairs being affected, thus endangering the provision of safe and comfortable housing.
Passed by General Meeting of Balsall Heath Housing Co-op, 18 April 2001.
