Social Housing Providers Warned Full Impact of Welfare Reform Yet To Come

The social housing sector is yet to feel the full impact of the Tory-led coalition's welfare reforms, a provider of assurance and advisory services has warned.  Baker Tilly's benchmarking survey of 70 housing providers found that the average level of rent arrears during 2013/14 was 3.29%, slightly down on the 3.90% anticipated in the same survey last year - but providers are predicting that rates will rise to 4.14% in 2015/16 once the wider roll-out of universal credit takes effect. Read more on 24dash.

Housing Providers Braced For 80% Rise in Arrears

The social housing sector is preparing for an 80% rise in rent arrears rates as a consequence of the government's welfare reforms, according to a new study. Respondents to accountancy firm Baker Tilly's survey reported that the average level of rent arrears was 2.64% in the year ending 2013 but that this was expected to rise to 4.82% in 2014-15. Download a copy of the report from the Baker Tilly website.