§ Tom CoxTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the current level of rent arrears is in each London local authority; and if he will make a statement. [185346]
§ Phil HopeEstimated total arrears of council rents at 31 March 2004, as reported by each local authority in London, were as follows:
£000 Rent arrears owed by: Local authority Current tenants Former tenants Total arrears Barking and Dagenham 2,232 465 2,697 Barnet 956 1,020 1,975 Brent 2,201 1,559 3,761 Camden 3,583 2,049 5,632 City of London 112 75 187 Croydon 1,927 1,991 3,918 Baling 3,681 3,953 7,634 Enfield 2,187 980 3,167 Greenwich 7,980 9,700 17,679 Hackney 13,747 8,109 21,856 Hammersmith and Fulham 3,393 523 3,916 Haringey 5,000 2,049 7,049 Harrow 712 666 1,377 Havering 833 780 1,662 Hillingdon 1,806 688 2,494 Hounslow 1,613 1,028 2,641 Islington 9,847 7,602 17,449 Kensington and Chelsea 1,467 1,020 2,486 Kingston upon Thames 1,244 670 1,914 Lambeth 12,551 3,719 16,270 Lewisham 4,746 2,865 7,611 Merton 673 315 988 Newham 3,858 3,680 7,538 Redbridge 712 455 1,168 Southwark 14,343 3,067 17,410 Sutton 1,207 810 2,017 Tower Hamlets 2,306 2,209 4,515 Waltham Forest 3,789 826 4,615 Wandsworth 4,052 1,333 5,385 Westminster 3,031 1,657 4,688 Total 115,838 65,862 181,700 Note: Some of the totals do not appear to be he sum of the parts. This is because of rounding. Source: Unaudited figures from the "First Advance Claim Form 2004–5", which forms part of the "Entitlement to Housing Subsidies and Grants" survey that is administered by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. A 2003 Audit Commission report on local authority housing rental income found that the performance of rent arrears services had been judged by housing inspectors to be weak relative to other housing services. Based on these findings a number of recommendations have been put forward for improving the prevention and management of arrears:
1. Local authorities should have clear, effective rent arrears strategies in place to prevent, manage and recover arrears.568W2. Where tenants are in financial difficulties or are vulnerable. authorities should consider a range of methods for preventing and dealing with arrears, before considering legal action to recover debts. These include access to information and support; debt counselling; liaison with housing benefits sections; and debt management plans to enable tenants to sustain their tenancies and repay their arrears.