HOUSING chiefs are set to get tough with tenants who fall behind with their rent.

Arrears across the borough have risen by £137,000 in the last 12 months.

And it has been reported that council chiefs have had to write off £70,000 which cannot be recovered.

Now council bosses are set to make collecting rent arrears their top priority.

Cllr Noel Spencer, housing committee chairman, said: "We will be reminding tenants that they do have an obligation to pay this money.

"We do not like to evict people and we are understanding of the financial difficulties people can get into.

"Usually, we find that a letter is sufficient without having to resort to other measures."

The rise in arrears has been put down to a number of factors, including a change in regulations which make it more difficult for some people to qualify for benefit.

Housing chiefs have also put their efforts in the last 12 months into reducing the number of empty council properties which are now at their lowest level this year.

These details are revealed in a performance review report which was presented to councillors at a housing sub committee meeting.

It also showed that the housing department has made significant progress on dealing with cases of anti-social behaviour.

In the period July to September, 190 cases were resolved.

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