Universal Credit Tenants Slip Back Into Rent Arrears After Long Period

Tenants claiming Universal Credit for long periods persistently struggle to pay their rent and even build up more arrears despite government attempts to improve the situation. Researchers analysing tenants of Southwark Council who rely on UC pointed to a “worrying” trend of rent being consistently underpaid by an average of 7%, even 15 months after the first claim. They said arrears associated with UC could eventually cost the borough, which owns nearly 37,000 homes, £6m a year. Thinktank The Smith Institute has published its Safe as Houses 2 report on behalf of Southwark Council – which was one of the first local authorities where Universal Credit was fully rolled out. Download the report from the Smith Institute website.

https://omghcontent.affino.com/AcuCustom/Sitename/DAM/110/Safe_As_Houses_2.pdf