Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Great value Unlimited Broadband from an award winning provider  

 

Early Intervention Encouraged For Rent Arrears During Cost Of Living Crisis

10th November 2023

Housing and Property Committee met today (Thursday 9 November 2023) and discussed the impact that the ‘cost of living' crisis and other global factors has had on tenants experiencing rent arrears.

Housing and Property Committee Chair, Cllr Glynis Campbell Sinclair said: "The Highland Council Housing Service works closely with our Welfare Support Team to ensure early intervention and inform tenants of rent arrears as soon as they arise.

"Due to the ‘Cost of Living Crisis', and other global factors, many tenants are finding themselves in rent arrears for the very first time and require early intervention to guide them through the process and to provide appropriate welfare support to each individual."

Cllr Glynis Sinclair added: "Local Housing Officers carry out a crucial role and ongoing training to ensure they can assist tenants with up to date information and can refer people to existing and new grant funding, direct tenants to agencies available that can help ensure they can access support to which they are entitled and can assist with debt and personal budgeting issues.

“We encourage anyone experiencing financial difficulty and/or rent arrears to get in touch with your Local Housing Officer and/or Welfare Support to ensure that all entitled financial support and energy saving measures are in place."

All Highland Council tenants sign a Scottish Secure Tenancy lease at the start of their tenancy which places a legal duty on them to pay their rent. However, many tenants are experiencing difficulties in paying rent or accessing welfare benefits and are falling into rent arrears.

The Rent Arrears Management Policy updated in November 2022, considers all tenants in arrears as vulnerable and in need of support. The Council's policy also states that legal action is a last resort.

If you or anyone you know are struggling to keep up with Council tenant rent payments, please contact your Local Housing Officer or contact the Welfare Support Team via the Council website.

Anyone worrying about the ‘Cost of Living Crisis’, should know that support is available. Help and advice across Highland can be found in the ‘worrying about money’ leaflet available form the Council’s website https://www.highland.gov.uk/downloads/file/23081/worrying_about_money_english
or download the app here. https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/20022/cost_of_living/1024/help_with_the_cost_of_living/8

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Yesterday
Highland Council Working Hard To Source New Avenues Of Funding To Help Families Experiencing Fuel PovertyThumbnail for article : Highland Council Working Hard To Source New Avenues Of Funding To Help Families Experiencing Fuel Poverty
Highland Council continues to explore external funding opportunities to help families in the region who experience disproportionately higher levels of fuel poverty than the rest of Scotland.   External funding is targeted at households classed as fuel and extreme fuel poor and is available Highland-wide.  
Yesterday
£1m Of Funding To Empower Highland Communities From UK GovernmentThumbnail for article : £1m Of Funding To Empower Highland Communities From UK Government
The Highland Council is inviting applications from groups and organisations to the ‘Communities and Place' strand of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).   £1 million of funding is available for capital and revenue projects, that will empower communities to build on their own strengths, support local needs, and deliver on the fund's main objective of ‘building pride in place and increasing life chances'.  
Yesterday
Highland Community, Sports, And Leisure Facility Strategy
A strategy which proposes a two-stage approach towards the development of vibrant community hubs in partnership with High Life Highland and sportscotland was agreed at the Council's Education Committee.   The report set out the principles for investment over the long-term and the next steps to develop individual plans for each of the Council's 29 associated school group (ASG) areas.  
Yesterday
Council Seeks Tenants Views On Rent For 2024/25Thumbnail for article : Council Seeks Tenants Views On Rent For 2024/25
The Highland Council are inviting all tenants to have their say on the rent levels for the year ahead.  We encourage everyone that lives in a council house to take this chance to have their say, the results of this will have a direct impact on the services we are able to deliver next year and in the future.  
4/12/2023
Suppliers Invited To Inaugural Highland Registrars' Wedding Fair
Suppliers working in the wedding market are being invited by Highland Registrars to a newly established Wedding Fair.   The Highland Wedding Fair will take place on Sunday 4 February 2024 with public access from 11.00am - 3.00pm (suppliers will have access from 8:30am).  
4/12/2023
Has Interest In Community Councils Collapsed - Timetable For Community Council Elections Confirmed
The Highland Council has announced the timetable to make a final attempt to reform the 30 Community Council elections that failed to form in September 2023.   Community Councils are voluntary organisations that express the views and concerns of local people within their area across a wide range of issues from new buildings and roads to local services and facilities.  
2/12/2023
Trainees Thrive At Wick And Other Places In Highland With Paid Work ExperienceThumbnail for article : Trainees Thrive At Wick And Other Places In Highland With Paid Work Experience
For the first time, The Highland Council's Employability Service is offering Paid Third Sector Placements to unemployed Highland residents.  Funded by the Scottish Government through the No One Left Behind policy, this initiative proposes 6-month paid work experience placements hosted by charities and non-for-profit organisations.  
2/12/2023
Peanuts To Cover The Highland Council's Playpark Strategy And Action Plan 2023-33Thumbnail for article : Peanuts To Cover The Highland Council's Playpark Strategy And Action Plan 2023-33
Highland Council's Playpark Strategy and Action Plan for 2023-2033 was agreed and adopted by members of the Communities and Place Committee on 29 November 2023.   Resource - The service has limited revenue budget for maintenance of £176,900 for all sites.  
2/12/2023
Vision For Inverness Castle Experience Takes A Step Closer To RealityThumbnail for article : Vision For Inverness Castle Experience Takes A Step Closer To Reality
It was announced on Friday 1 December 2023 that Workhaus Projects has been awarded the contract to carry out the interpretation for the interior of the Inverness Castle Experience.   Workhaus Projects will combine creativity, design, technology and craftsmanship to create a world-class visitor experience within the transformed castle building, bringing the vision of content designers Mather & Co to fruition.  
30/11/2023
Improving Behaviour Issues - Funding To Address Problems At The Root
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth has announced £900,000 in new funding for staff to tackle poor behaviour and attendance in schools.   The funding will be provided directly to local authorities to train support staff to respond to new challenges and develop behaviour management strategies in schools post COVID.