Islington Council is intensifying its efforts to support residents facing rent arrears, with a report highlighting a real story, people's story
behind the figures. The Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee reviewed the year-end report for 2025/26, emphasizing a holistic approach that combines financial recovery with broader support and preventative work.
Ian Swift, Director of Housing Operations, stated that the council approaches rent arrears not just from a financial perspective but also through wider support and preventative work.
This includes a strong partnership between housing and community wealth building teams, particularly in providing advice to residents in temporary accommodation. The council also works with teams like the Income Maximisation Team (IMAX) to explore all options, including suspended possession orders. They emphasize that rent arrears are a real story, people's story, our resident.
The council also highlights the availability of support through internal teams like Shine, the iWork's team, and their internal hub team, encouraging residents to come forward if they need support to mitigate the crisis feeling of overwhelming financial situations.
Stephen Biggs, Corporate Director of Community Wealth Building and Housing, highlighted the material impact
of providing advice to residents, which has not only improved their financial positions but also generated income for the council. While the exact measurement of this income is not detailed, it is presented as a positive outcome of the preventative advice given. He stressed that residents don't fall into arrears deliberately, they fall into arrears because of the rest of their lives and all the other stuff that they have to support, often with income that isn't sufficient.
By addressing these wider issues, the partnership aims to stabilize residents' financial positions and prevent arrears.
Cassandra Flavius, a resident observer, shared a positive personal experience of receiving support from the council when she was a young single mother, noting that the support sounds like it has increased.
She inquired about the destination of tenants evicted due to arrears, and was informed that evictions are a last resort.
Evictions for rent arrears are considered a last resort. The council works with teams like the Income Maximisation Team (IMAX) to explore all options, including suspended possession orders. The court may grant a suspended possession order, stating that if a payment plan is adhered to, eviction will not proceed. However, if this plan is breached, the council can ask the court to proceed with eviction. The decision to evict ultimately rests with the courts, not the council.
Councillor Michael O'Sullivan raised concerns about the role of Universal Credit in rent arrears. Officers noted that while improvements have been made, the system still presents challenges, particularly for households frequently moving between Universal Credit and employment. Swift added that Universal Credit needs to improve a damn lot better, not for the council but for the tenants as well.
Universal Credit presents challenges, particularly for households that frequently flip in and out of Universal Credit employment etc.
This can lead to debts increasing very quickly. The system's design, with an eight-week wait before direct payment can be claimed for vulnerable households, is also a difficulty. The council is not always informed when a Universal Credit claim is made, meaning they often only find out about arrears once they have already occurred. While improvements have been made to Universal Credit, officers note that it needs to improve a damn lot better, not for the council but for the tenants as well.
Read more about the council's work in the Public reports pack: Public reports pack
