8.6.7  Rent and Service Charge Collection and Arrears Recovery60

The Contractor must manage and carry out all rent administration and collection, and arrears management as agent to the Authority in a manner that maximises the amount collected and minimises arrears whilst enabling Tenants to maintain their Tenancy wherever appropriate.

Rent will be set by the Authority in accordance with existing policies applicable across the Authority's stock.

The Contractor should:

a)  Support a varied range of payment facilities to provide choice to residents;

b)  Manage service charges such that they are minimised, and that they are collected in a manner that does not place undue financial burden on occupants;

c)  Support residents in completing housing benefit or other benefits forms as appropriate; and

d)  Provide appropriate arrears counselling or basic financial advice as required on rent problems, personal debt problems and other financial matters.

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60 This section may not be required on non-HRA schemes as failure to collect the rent directly affects the Contractors own financial situation.  To the extent it is retained on a non-HRA scheme, it should be noted that the landlord and not the Authority will set and collect the rent and drafting should be amended accordingly.