Rent Arrears Soar in Pilot Benefit Scheme

Rent arrears among tenants on a Direct Payment Demonstration Project have seen a big increase.  One area is predicting a £14m loss if the new system is implemented for all its tenants. Figures obtained by BBC News show that arrears among tenants of Wakefield and District Housing in West Yorkshire have increased from an average of 2% to 11% on the pilot projects. Bron Afon community housing in south Wales said it had seen a 50% increase in arrears, while pilot projects in Edinburgh, Oxford and Southwark are showing around 30% increases in arrears.   Southwark Council predicts it will incur £14m in arrears if direct payment is introduced to all their tenants. Read more on the BBC website.