Wigan’s largest provider of social housing is consulting on possible changes to tenancy agreements which could involve a new system that will make paying the rent less confusing for tenants.
Wigan and Leigh Housing (WALH) is inviting views on its plan to modernise the way people pay rent on their properties by changing the old-fashioned ‘one week in arrears’ system in favour of a new system where tenants pay in the current week.
Housing chiefs say the new measures will help clear up widespread confusion over what tenants owe and when. It will also mean that people leaving council accommodation can do so freely, without an extra week’s rent being due when they hand in their keys.
WALH Chief Executive Ashley Crumbley explains: “We currently expect tenants to make their first rent payment one week after they have begun their tenancy. This means that every WALH tenant is one week in arrears.
Often it can cause confusion and difficulties for many tenants when they get their quarterly rent statements or they end their tenancy. Under the current system many tenants who leave our properties simply forget they have another week’s rent to pay. We know many have not budgeted for this leaving them with another cost just as they are paying out for rent or a mortgage on their new home.
“We are proposing to change the system so that the weekly rent will be payable each week from when the tenancy begins.
“We are proposing this for a number of reasons but mainly to reduce confusion. Most other councils across the country have already adopted this system and indeed we received criticism from the Audit Commission during our last inspection for still charging people one week in arrears.
“We realise that given the current climate people may not be able to pay what would effectively be two weeks’ rent in one week so we would offer tenants a wide range of options to pay.”
The new rent system is part of a larger package of improvements to the council’s standard tenancy agreement that are being proposed.
Other changes include tough new measures to combat issues such as bad behaviour, domestic violence and aggression towards staff more effectively.
WALH will present their ideas on changes to Wigan Council’s Cabinet which meets on Thursday October 16 who will consider the possible changes prior to full tenant consultation.
This consultation will begin with tenants shortly after the Cabinet meets and the results of this will be reported back to the Cabinet around December prior to final approval by the council. If the Council accepts the changes the proposals will be brought in from April next year.
