CIH: 'tenants make payments top priority'

Posted: 11 May 2007 09:32:43 GMT

Most tenants attempt to make rent payments the top of their agenda, according to new research from the Chartered Institute of Housing.

Most tenants attempt to make rent payments the top of their agenda, according to new research from the Chartered Institute of Housing.

A study by the body states that any non-payments are usually down to administrative errors rather than deliberate delaying on the part of the dweller.

It was carried out as a way to gauge peoples' reaction to the news that the government may pay housing benefit direct to those who claimants.

In the main, it found that those tenants with an organised outlook on money and finance will make a decent transition to direct payments. Others may need advice during the switch.

Their overall views on the proposals were linked to their general views on finance, the study said.

Leader of the research, Oxford University's Professor Peter Kemp, said that less hassle was the key reasoning behind many people's agreement with the changes.

"Most people will be able to adjust to having housing benefit paid to them instead of their landlord, but safeguards need to be in place for the minority of claimants that do have problems," he stated.

Under the new measures, housing benefit is expected to be paid direct to claimants in rented private accommodation from 2008 and will be known as local housing allowance.

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