Arrears and evictions

Our position on arrears and evictions

Rent is the main source of Affinity Sutton’s income and is essential for both maintaining our existing homes and building new affordable homes. It is therefore important that we do everything possible to maximise rent collection in a way that gives our residents the chance to pay.

We offer a very wide range of payment methods, enabling residents to choose the best option to suit their lifestyle. When residents fall behind with their payments, we offer help and assistance – either through our staff or a number of independent agencies, to give money advice and to maximise the residents’ income.

In pursuing unpaid rent, we operate a firm but fair process in helping our residents to get back on track. We offer continuing advice on housing and welfare benefits and we support tenants to make agreements to catch up with their payments. We give clear guidelines that if rent is consistently not paid then we will have no option but to take action.

We understand that the Government’s welfare changes will place increased pressure on many household budgets and have employed three additional Welfare Benefits Advisors to help residents maximise and manage their income. However, our policy on rent arrears is very clear and we will not be changing it as a result of welfare reforms.

Where action is required we will follow a fair process. If we apply to evict a resident it will be as a last resort and it will be used where rent is consistently not paid and early interventions have failed.

If a resident has high level arrears and has failed to reach an agreement to repay the arrears – or has failed persistently to make their agreed repayments – we may, after due warning, use Ground 8 of the Housing Act 1988 to seek possession. This is a part of the law we have not used before and it allows us to insist that a court grants a possession order.