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Consulting on changes to cash collection

This week we have asked tenants what they think about our plans to stop collecting rent and council tax through some of our housing offices and by rent collectors.

We have written to all tenants who pay their rent in this way. The letter highlights our plans for the service, what this will mean to them, and what other payment options are available. Tenants must respond by 5th March 2009. We will use the feedback to help us make a final decision on the proposals.

Many tenants now pay their rent by Direct Debit, at the Post Office, using Paypoint outlets or over the phone and on-line. But some people still use our housing offices. All payment methods are free of charge to tenants, but the cost to us varies dramatically depending on how people pay their rent.

Paying in a housing office can cost us up to £6 to process. In contrast, the same transaction by Direct Debit costs us less than 16p and at Post Offices and Paypoint outlets less than 45p. By paying at Post Offices or Paypoint stores, residents can make a vital contribution to help keep these essential local lifelines open.

If we remove cash collection from offices and end the rent collection service, this move alone could save us £250,000 a year. This money can then be reinvested back into the services that are important to our tenants.

We are also concerned about the security risk cash payments present for tenants and our staff. Stopping the rent collection service and cash payments in housing offices reduces the risk of people carrying money and storing it in our buildings.

Those who normally pay at a housing office will be able to use one of the many other ways to pay rent. These include:

• Paying at any post office
• Paying at one of the 114 Paypoint outlets across the city– which can be found at your local supermarket, newsagents or convenience store.
• Paying over the phone
• Paying online through this website
• The most convenient and easiest way to pay is by Direct Debit. This is also the most cost effective way for us to collect rent, meaning that more rent money is used to fund essential services.

Tenants must contact us with their comments or suggestions by Friday 5th March. For further information, please call our Rents team on 0115 915 4920 or email: mark.lawson@nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk.

(Friday 22 January 09:00:00 GMT)

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