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They’re prize idiots
• In last week’s edition you reported how Camden Council is to enter its tenants in a twice-yearly £1,000 prize draw (Rent Prize, May 25). This, apparently, is to encourage tenants to pay their rent promptly.
Of course, it is right that council tenants should pay their rent and on time. However, there is another side to this story. Many tenants – both in the private and social housing sector – including pensioners, the disabled and those working for low wages, are assisted with their rent through the Housing Benefit (HB) system.
This is strictly means-tested, as it should be, and offers help to those whose income is insufficient to meet rent levels.
HB is administered by Camden Council.
This year there has been a backlog in HB assessments due, it seems, to the recent explosion and fire at Hemel Hempstead.
Camden’s IT data systems were, apparently, affected. This backlog has lead to arrears appearing in some rent accounts. Camden housing officers are well aware of the reason for these arrears.
However, Camden’s housing department is acting more like a hard-headed, profit-hungry commercial landlord than a major provider of essential public social housing.
Camden Council has issued Notices of Seeking Possession, the first stage in eviction proceedings, in cases were rent arrears have arisen only because Camden’s own benefits section is taking longer than usual to assess HB claims. This is beyond laughable. It is grotesque.
A grand for the winners, homelessness for the losers – some competition.
EK, NW5
Name and address supplied
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