A new tougher approach to collecting outstanding rent from ex-council tenants is being taken by North East Lincolnshire Council.

Debt collectors will recover the council’s money

A new tougher approach to collecting outstanding rent from ex-council tenants is being taken by North East Lincolnshire Council.

With almost £1m owed to the authority by former tenants the council now plans to use a debt collection agency to claw back the cash.

The council currently collects £7,000 a month from former tenants owing cash, but with £950,000 outstanding and reluctance on the part of some to pay up a tougher line is being taken by involving a firm called Rossendales Limited.

They are a tracing and debt collection company who will start tracking down defaulters from the end of June.

The authority will pay Rossendales on a commission basis in the hope that some, if not all, of the money, owed to the council will be collected.

Outstanding bills

Councillor Andrew De Freitas, who is responsible for housing, said: “I hope that former tenants who owe money will be sensible and pay their outstanding bills.

“It is unfortunate that we have had to recruit a debt collection service, but the council has found this necessary, to recover the £950,000 still owed.”

And he added: “I would urge past tenants who do owe money to contact tenancy services to make arrangements for payment.”