Once again we are embracing the festive cheer with eighteen shopping days to go and counting down. However this can be the time where parental love takes over from common sense and buying presents can descend into overkill.

As much as the majority of tenants have been paying their rent on time throughout the year, there can always be a "glitch"  around December so be prepared just in case.  Once the spending habit takes hold, then it can be extremely hard to quash.

The other concern is that in the North West of England the majority of Jobcentre Plus's are now delivering Universal Credit  and within this area, besides jobseekers, couples are now receiving the new form of benefit. Those people who receive income support may just see the first monthly payment as their "Christmas bonus".

Overall there should be minor cases of rent being withheld and of course it is better to be forewarned and have structures in place, just in case rent payments due at the end of December "magically" disappear.

In September Ian Duncan Smith announced that "Universal Credit" would be fast tracked starting from February 2015, as of yet the new areas have not yet been announced. 

 

PIMS has found out that there are going to be  "Universal Credit" Roadshows held early next year in Bristol, Cornwall, parts of London and York. More importantly these are being held in conjunction with the National Housing Federation, the body that represents Social Housing non profit organisations. There are also rumours that it will be starting shortly in Essex as well.

Richard Merrick of PIMS said "So besides the Christmas scenario be also on the lookout for the announcement of the new Universal Credit rollout in your area".