Dundee expecting ‘rocky’ time with changes to housing benefit payments

Councillors have been warned there are ”rocky patches” ahead for rent collection in Dundee.

Housing convener Jimmy Black said changes to the housing benefit system, which would see direct payments made to tenants, could have an impact on rent arrears.

The latest figures show 10% of the rent owed to the city council is in arrears, compared to the Scottish average of 6.1%.

Mr Black said he is not happy with the current performance, but there is an improvement plan in place. However, the housing benefit change might mean more tenants will delay payments.

”It’s going to be quite a shock for people who are claiming housing benefit at the moment and we are concerned,” he told the council’s housing committee.

Housing director Elaine Zwirlein explained that Dundee’s socio-economic position meant it would be ”quite a challenge” to get the arrears level down to the average.

Councillor Fraser Macpherson suggested it would be better to measure the council’s performance against comparable local authorities.