§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities have the highest rent arrears; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungI have today arranged for the information on rent arrears in all English local authorities at 31 March 1992, to be placed in the Library.
At 31 March 1992, the total amount of rent arrears owing to housing authorities in England amounted to £458 million, 8 per cent. of rent roll, compared to £434 million, 8.6 per cent. of rent roll, in the previous year. Despite a small overall increase in cash terms, the latest figures bring to an end a long upward trend in local authority rent arrears.
About half all rent arrears arise in London, £223 million, with eight of the 10 authorities which perform least satisfactorily found in the capital. These authorities have rent arrears totalling £163 million, equal to 36 per cent. of the national total.
Closer analysis of returns from local authorities confirms a recent general improvement in rent collection rates. During 1991–92, for example, local authorities estimated that £87.2 million of rent due during the year remained uncollected at the end of the year, 1.5 per cent. of the rent roll, with 20 authorities responsible for half this total. This compares to £109.5 million, 2.2 per cent. of rent roll, of rent due in 1990–91 uncollected at the end of the year.
103WDespite this general improvement in rent collection rates, there is no room for complacency and many authorities, particularly those in London, need to do more to improve their performance in this critical area.