Keep up to date with rent in 2008

Friday 18th January 2008

Worcester Community Housing (WCH) is urging customers to make paying their rent a priority in 2008. The move comes as part of a drive to help customers avoid getting into rent arrears at a time when there are many post-Christmas pressures on family budgets such as credit and store card bills.

Posters will be appearing in local housing offices, community centres, libraries and other public places throughout the city. A personal postcard will also be sent to those already in arrears. The hard-hitting campaign features an image of a snow family who have been evicted from their home, with the message 'Don't get left out in the cold this winter. Pay your rent.' WCH hope the campaign will help customers push paying their rent to the top of their post-Christmas spending priorities.

WCH Housing Director Jean Dalziel said: "National figures show that the number of people who fall behind with their rent payments, increases in the post-festive period. Over the last two years we have worked hard to make sure rents are paid on time and arrears are down as a result and we are keen to maintain this momentum."

Most importantly the campaign urges customers who may be in rent arrears to talk to WCH. Jean explained more: "We're not here to judge. We are here to give sound confidential advice and offer practical payment options that suit both our customers and ourselves. To help us in this work and to give customers more specialist debt advice we have teamed up with the Black Pear Credit Union and Worcester Housing and Benefit Advice Centre. Both offer free help and advice to anyone who is in rent arrears, struggling to pay rent or is in debt."

Although it all sounds like good sense there are still some customers who choose not to talk and instead let rent arrears get out of control. WCH have ended 35 tenancies since April 2007 because of consistently high rent arrears. Jean said: "It is not something we like to do. But when arrears start to mount up and after many attempts to talk, customers show no sign of wanting to work with us to solve the problem then we must take action."

In addition to the New Year campaign Worcester Community Housing is also looking at new and innovative ways to encourage customers to keep on top of their rent. As well as easier and more convenient ways to pay such as by direct debit and at local shops and post offices, they have also introduced a new customer incentive scheme.

Called 'WCH Rewards' the scheme sees all customers who pay their rent on time, and everybody who pays by Direct Debit entered into a quarterly prize draw. The scheme is already starting to show benefits.

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