Landlords Draw Up Bedroom Tax Eviction Protocol

Nottingham’s largest social landlords – including Nottingham City Homes - are introducing a city-wide eviction prevention protocol for dealing with tenants hit by the bedroom tax.  The measure, which will offer tenants ‘every option to prevent evictions’, is also intended to protect those affected by the under-occupancy penalty that are in particular hardship. Under the protocol, evictions of the 5,375 tenants affected by the bedroom tax in Nottingham will not be authorised if tenants are engaging with either debt advice agencies, or with landlords’ tenancy sustainment teams that manage arrears. The protocol will override any existing arrears procedures.  Read more on Inside Housing.

Rewarding Positive Behaviour through Tenant Cashback

Together Housing Group (THG), one of the Tenant Cashback Scheme pilots, has developed a scheme with a focus on tenancy sustainment and rewarding positive behaviour. The scheme which was developed and piloted concentrates on rewarding positive tenant behaviour and developing basic life skills. Tenant groups and tenant board members were involved in designing the revised scheme and setting up the pilot. It was agreed to concentrate the pilot on those areas where intervention would be most beneficial, and two of THG’s more difficult to manage, high turnover estates were identified. Tenants were recruited to the scheme via meetings, briefing events and, most successfully, through door knocking individual properties. Read more on the Together website.