Research shows improving picture on landlords tackling unpaid rent

8 March 2010

On 08 March 2010, the Tenants Services Authority published a research report, Investigation of Rent Arrears Management Practices in the Social Housing Sector. Professor David Cowan was a member of the research team. The research looks closely at the ways in which housing associations deal with rent arrears and, for the first time, details their practices in relation to the types of possession proceedings they take. In particular, the research focuses on the use of mandatory possession grounds.

Press release and the full report - Rent arrears management practices in the housing association sector

Further information

The Tenant Services Authority (TSA) was established in December 2008 and will be the new independent regulator of social housing in England. Its formal name is The Office for Tenants and Social Landlords. It has taken over some of the duties of the Housing Corporation, which has now closed, and oversees all Registered Social Landlords (such as housing associations). However, in April 2010 it will start to regulate other providers of social housing, such as the 250 co-operatives, 187 local authority landlords and 69 arm’s-length management organisations who manage homes on behalf of 65 local authorities in England. There are over ten million social housing tenants in England. The TSA's job is to set standards for social landlords to ensure that all tenants receive the same excellent levels of service, whether they are council tenants or tenants of other housing providers. It will also make sure that landlords are spending their money properly and governing themselves well.

Please contact Professor David Cowan for further information.