fox20thc Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 HARD-UP council tenants in Sheffield owe a staggering £12.6 million in rent. Sheffield Homes - which runs the city's huge council house stock - has a target of keeping arrears down to £11.5 million. But the arrears have soared more than £1 million above target - blamed on delays in tenants receiving housing benefit caused by a new computer system. Sheffield Homes tries to recover rent arrears with a warning letter - usually sent out within days of a default being made, then the offer of a personal interview with debt advice experts. A home visit from specialist rent collection staff may be authorised. If tenants still ignore requests then there's a Notice to Seek Possession, followed by court action. So who really is to blame? the new computer? the tenant? the benefits system? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick2 Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 £12m is not that much realy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fox20thc Posted September 19, 2006 Author Share Posted September 19, 2006 £12m is not that much realy. "If the £12.6 million was successfully recovered, the money would be recycled into the housing service. Currently £30 million a year is spent on repairs - if extra funds were available, managers would like to expand that programme to carry out more pre-emptive work. A new report also shows the company is facing a £500,000 overspend on repairs." Its enough!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick2 Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 Compared to how much the council get from us in council tax £12m is a drop in the ocean, but they are saying that things arn't getting done because they don't have that money ? Sounds like a good excuse to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bagger Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 Before we bought our council house (last year) we used to pay our rent on line. As it took a few days for their system to 'get the money' we sometimes, horror of horrors, were a day or two late paying. We immediately used to get a letter threatening us with court and dire consequences if we didn't cough up. We paid a months rent at a time and always did. They only had to look on the system to see we never defaulted on our rent. When I rang and enquired they said it was a standard letter that automatically was sent when rent wasn't received. Fair enough. But if Sheffield rent payers are defaulting to the tune of £12 million I'd be interested to know how many of those are ending up with court appearances or worse? Are the prisons full of non paying council tennants? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fox20thc Posted September 19, 2006 Author Share Posted September 19, 2006 Are the prisons full of non paying council tenants? Nah, none payment of rent is a civil offence. They could end up evicted, homeless and being dragged through the courts for non payment, followed by a ccj and bailiffs but thats it I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heyesey Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I have two questions. (1) Why isn't the target zero? (2) If someone owes more than 3 months' rent, why aren't they evicted immediately and the house given to someone else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fox20thc Posted September 19, 2006 Author Share Posted September 19, 2006 I have two questions. (1) Why isn't the target zero? dunno (2) If someone owes more than 3 months' rent, why aren't they evicted immediately and the house given to someone else? Failure to pay off the arrears will result in Sheffield Homes serving a "Notice of Seeking Possession" on behalf of the City Council. If the matter becomes very serious we will ask the county court to give the Council possession of your property. A District Judge will decide after hearing evidence whether it is reasonable to give possession. If you have very good reasons for not paying your rent when it is due the District Judge may give the Council a suspended possession order. This means you are allowed to stay on the condition you pay your rent and an amount towards the arrears each week. Where possession is given to the Council a court bailiff will be asked to visit to carry out the eviction. Even after eviction we will continue to pursue former tenants for the debts they owe. This includes all of the costs spent on legal action taken to obtain possession of the property, and, recover the debt. In addition, if you: * Do not respond to our attempts to make contact with you, we may pass your account onto a debt collection agency who will recover the money for us * Do not give us your forwarding address, we will use a tracing agency to confirm where you currently live * Have a job and refuse to pay your debt, we can ask the Court to instruct your employers to repay the money direct from your salary * Own a home and refuse to pay your debt, we can get a Charging Order from the Court, which will stop you from selling your property without paying the debt first. As a final resort, we may instruct County Court Bailiffs to take possession of your belongings. These can be sold to help pay off your debt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YakQueudrue Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 £12m is not that much realy. Especially when it's only £1M below target arrears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky2 Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I have two questions. (1) Why isn't the target zero? (2) If someone owes more than 3 months' rent, why aren't they evicted immediately and the house given to someone else? Correct, if you are so far behind with paying your morgage that company would be quick to do something about it, so why can't the council Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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