Apr 13 - Government Reports Decline In Housing Rent Arrears – Annual Figure Would Show 17.3% Reduction
The Government has said that in the first quarter of 2016, the amount it is owed in rent arrears has fallen from £6,017,341 to £5,756,673. Number Six says that, if rounded up to an annual figure, this would represent a 17.3% reduction adding that this shows that Government measures “have reversed the upward trend and that the arrears are now being brought under control.”
Minister for Housing, Samantha Sacramento, said: “We have been working hard on a strategy to recover arrears since last year, which we started to implement in January 2016 and are already seeing positive results. Essentially, the strategy is twofold; we are proactively recovering the existing debt whilst also introducing mechanisms to prevent new arrears being incurred and rolling over. By doing this, we are preventing the debt from escalating. We have further similar initiatives in the pipeline.
“I would like to praise the hard work of my Ministry and the Housing Department for the significant recovery of arrears in a relatively short period of time. Further measures are being planned and will be implemented in the near future.”
The Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, said: “These figures speak volumes for the excellent work being done by the Minister for Housing, her Ministry and the Housing Department who have collected increased amounts of outstanding arrears. This reversal of recent trends will be particularly welcome news for all tenants who have dutifully paid their dues on time.”
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