tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3477405546047983615.post5111579101998164472..comments2024-03-20T08:07:14.897+00:00Comments on Tony Smith,that Housing IT Guy https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy @HousingITguy: Something ChangedTony Smith, that housing IT Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03758797121844324508noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3477405546047983615.post-68019871373847010962016-08-20T17:53:32.985+01:002016-08-20T17:53:32.985+01:00...Helping tenants wholly reliant on benefits to g......Helping tenants wholly reliant on benefits to gain budgeting skills....<br /><br />If I could have a pound for every time I see this. How many people do you know that can budget £73.00 per week to live on minus your rent but possibly not council tax and not the Spare Room Penalty 14% of overall rent for 1 room 25% for 2 or more. <br />Sure there are no doubt people who do need help with budgeting skills but more than the general population? I'd like anyone of the people I know who work to survive on my disability benefits without falling into debt or having to juggle who you pay when. <br /><br />As for new and innovative ways to encourage people to pay their rent. Well here's a tenants perspective It's typical that the only person who contacts me in a timely fashion is the Rent Enforcement Officer who seems to think that people on Housing Benefit don't pay rent as I'm told over and over again my rent is '£29.72 pw' and I must pay this in advance. Problem is that that amount represents the amount I have to pay for my none spare bedroom. If my council had to pay £15 for every missed appointment it would start to eat into the repair budget. Or standards would suddenly leap and people like me would feel more inclined to make sure the Spare Room Penalty is paid in advance from my disability benefits. You see I don't want bribing to pay my rent I just want an adequate service in return for my rent. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3477405546047983615.post-19784791026961587072014-12-23T09:12:24.390+00:002014-12-23T09:12:24.390+00:00Helping tenants wholly reliant on benefits to gain...Helping tenants wholly reliant on benefits to gain budgeting skills and do the things most people in work do every week/month is no bad thing.<br /><br />However, "Pay to Stay" is a policy of charging market rents to those who earn high salaries, but still live in social homes with subsidised low rents. <br /><br />That is a good thing for two reasons. First, it is fair to taxpayers, second, it generates a higher income for RPs who can use that for enhanced repair and maintenance or building more homes.John Mosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01149260762721143570noreply@blogger.com