Universal Credit Tenants In Arrears Increases To 86%

The percentage of council tenants on Universal Credit in rent arrears has increased to a “critically high” 86% over the last year, sparking “extreme concern” among councils. The National Federation of Arms’-Length Management Organisations (NFA) and the Association for Retained Council Housing (ARCH), which together represent more than one million council homes in England, carried out annual research into Universal Credit claimants and found the percentage of council home tenants in receipt of Universal Credit who are in rent arrears has increased by seven percentage points – from 79% in March last year to 86%. This compares to 39% of tenants in arrears who do not receive Universal Credit. Download a copy of the research from the Housingnet website.