Council Warns Rent Dodgers They Must Pay Up

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or they may lose their home

The council is stepping up its efforts to recover unpaid rent from its tenants. People who deliberately avoid paying their rent will face legal action and that could lead to eviction.

Over the past year 55 tenants have been evicted for non-payment of rent. Over 700 others have been taken to court and told that they will lose their council home if they don’t repay their arrears or keep their rent account up to date.  Wandsworth Council currently collects 97.6 per cent of the rent it is owed.

People who are evicted from their homes for this reason are usually deemed to have made themselves intentionally homeless and are therefore extremely unlikely to be rehoused by any local authority or housing association.

Executive member for housing Cllr Martin D Johnson said: "People who choose not to pay their rent will soon find out that there really is no such thing in life as a free ride.

"Some think it's perfectly acceptable to stop paying rent for a few months, because they want to go on holiday or because it's Christmas. These people need to think again because it only takes a few months from missing that first payment to losing your home.

“Arrears staff work to very strict rules. Every tenant with arrears has their account closely monitored. No-one gets away with not paying. Tenants on low income may be able to get financial help with all or part of their rent through housing benefit. It is important that tenants make sure they are receiving the benefits they are entitled to by contacting the town hall for advice."

Anyone who has rent arrears must contact the town hall immediately if they want to reduce the chances of eviction. Rent collection service staff can be telephoned on (020) 8871 8987 or emailed at rents@wandsworth.gov.uk. For advice on housing benefit telephone (020) 8871 8080 or email benefits@wandsworth.gov.uk

June 20, 2008