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Tenant Debt Advice Service |
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The Tenant Debt Advice Service (TDAS) is a pilot project set up in March 2010 under the Preventing Possession Initiative. The primary aim is to prevent eviction and homelessness by incorporating independent debt advice into social housing rent arrears management procedures. This is a partnership arrangement between Housing Rights Service and a number of housing associations; currently Ark, Belfast Community, Habinteg and North and West Housing.
The project has already shown success in terms of partnership working between housing providers, tenants and Housing Rights Service. The importance of effective communication has been instrumental in ensuring that tenant arrears problems are identified and appropriate referrals are made to the TDAS adviser . Our dedicated Housing Debt Advisor has achieved lots of successful outcomes to date by ensuring that the tenant's arrears and other debt problems are investigated and addressed. She then can create a realistic and sustainable repayment plan that should prevent the tenant from falling further into debt and, potentially becoming homeless.
What are your thoughts on the importance of holistic debt counselling when dealing with housing debt? Do you agree that fostering and developing partnerships is a key step in preventing possession?
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Developing guidance for rent collection and arrears management |
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As part of the Preventing Possession Initiative, a dedicated policy officer has been working in partnership with the Department for Social Development (Housing Division) and social housing providers in NI (including NIHE), to develop good practice guidance in rent arrears management and recovery for the social housing sector in Northern Ireland.
The guidance is currently with NIFHA for consultation and we hope to see it launched and adopted by all social housing providers in the autumn. A crucial element of the work of the Preventing Possession Initiative has been ensuring that a standard approach to rent arrears is taken by all social housing providers in Northern Ireland. We see this as an important step in preventing homelessness as a consequence of debt related possession action. An important element of this piece of work has been in striking a balance between maximising income for the housing provider whilst ensuring that eviction is treated as a last resort.
We'd be very interested to hear what your views are on this kind of cohesion throughout the sector. What do you think are important factors in preventing a breakdown of the tenant/landlord relationship when dealing with arrears?
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