Citizens Advice Scotland reports 47 per cent rise in requests for advice on rent arrears

Back of tenements in Dunfermline - Image credit: Paul McIlroy via Wikimedia Commons

Requests for advice about rent arrears have increased by 47 per cent in five years, Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has reported.

The increase in cases relating to rent arrears contrasts with a steady decline in debt-related CAB advice given across the same period between 2012 and 2017.

Almost one in five people have had problems with rent arrears in the past five years and CAS is linking the steep rise to the rollout of Universal Credit and delays to payments.

In 2016/17 CAS recorded 4,171 new issues related to council rent arrears – an increase of 45 per cent on 2012/13 – and 2,669 cases related to rent arrears to other registered social landlords, such as housing associations – a rise of 65 per cent.

Rent arrears issues amongst private rented sector tenants increased by 20 per cent during the same five-year period, with 1,016 new cases in 2016/17.

According to Citizens Advice, evidence from its network in Scotland and elsewhere indicates the incidence of rent arrears to be far higher among tenants receiving Universal Credit.

Meanwhile, housing associations across the UK report that 73 per cent of tenants on Universal Credit are in arrears, compared to 29 per cent of others.

CAS spokesperson Rob Gowans said: “The rise in rent arrears is one of the most worrying trends we see across the CAB network at the moment.

“While there are a number of factors driving this, we have no doubt that the flaws in Universal Credit are one of the main ones.  

“For the past 18 months we have been calling for a halt and fix to Universal Credit.

“Some welcome changes have been made but many of the problems still remain and this report shows the impact these are having on peoples’ lives.  

“We have set out again today the key flaws that need to be addressed, including reducing the waiting period before payment, cutting out processing delays and reducing deductions.

“These are relatively simple changes that could make a huge difference to millions of people.

“In our report we also set out other causes of rent arrears, such as rent increases, low wages and lack of support for those in need.

“All of these need to be addressed as well as Universal Credit, and we will continue to work to highlight these problems and help find solutions.”