SSA Equality Impact and Needs Analysis - A and B Rent Payments - Rent Collection Service

Sep 16, 2026

Uploaded by Mali

SSA Equality Impact and Needs Analysis examines changes to A and B rent payments within Wandsworth’s Rent Collection Service, Housing and Regeneration/Resources. The document concludes the changes are not intended to directly affect protected groups, but may cause misunderstanding and distress, such as receiving rent arrears letters after the change. Implementation will be coordinated with the new IT system in May 2019, supported by extensive tenant consultation and targeted engagement by the RCS. Tenancy agreement terms remain unaffected.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryForms

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time4 min

AccessFree to download

Summary

Background

Analysis of need and impact

Protected group findings

SSA EQUALITY IMPACT AND NEEDS ANALYSIS | Directorate | Housing and Regeneration / Resources | | --- | --- | | Service Area | Rent Collection | | Service/policy/function being assessed | A and B Rent Payments | | Which borough (s) does the service/policy apply to | WANDSWORTH | | Staff involved | Martina Kane / Kay Willman | | Date approved by Policy and Review Manager | 03.07.2018 | | Date submitted to Directors’ Board | | SUMMARY Please summarise the key findings of the EINA. The changes are not designed to have a direct impact on any group of people from a protected characteristic. However, it is anticipated that some tenants many not understand the changes and may perceive the Council to be charging them more rent, when this is not the case. For instance, tenants may receive a rent arrears letter following the changes, whereas under the old system they would not. This could potentially cause some distress to residents and lead to a significant increase in enquiries to the Rent Collection Service (RCS) . To mitigate this, the changes will not be implemented immediately, but at the same time as the new IT system goes live in May 2019. Extensive consultation will be carried out with residents to help them understand these changes and the RCS will directly target those who will be most affected. These changes will have no impact on the terms of their tenancy agreement, as the current terms allow for the collection of rent weekly in advance. 1. Background The tenancy agreement and tenancy conditions set out that rent and other charges are due on Monday of each week. However, the Rent Collection Service (RCS) currently request tenants make rent payments every two weeks on a Monday, effectively paying one week in advance and one in arrears. These are known as either week ‘A’ or week ‘B’. This process was put into place decades ago for convenience and effective management of collecting rent so that council officers were not overwhelmed with tenants paying cash at the Council’s offices at the same time. Also, so that officers collecting rent door to door could cope with their visits. The way rent arrears are calculated and any debts are pursued have been set to allow for this basis of fortnightly rents. However, rent and charges payment methods and trends have modernised since this arrangement was implemented and the Council no longer has any tenants paying cash at council offices since their closure in 2009. Also, cash is no longer collected door to door. Tenants can still pay cash, but they now do this via swipe cards, which they can do weekly at their local post office or pay-point outlet. Additionally, tenants can pay their rent and charges in other ways, including: online, standing order, direct debit and over the phone to the automated payment service. The Council is often asked to provide statistical returns at benchmark dates but with half the accounts being due one week and half the following the Council cannot provide comparative figures. Officers working to rationalise work processes in the new IT system have identified rent and charges collection as an area which could be streamlined. This includes the way in which rents and the arrears escalation policies are set up and working practices going forward. Therefore, it is an appropriate time to consider regularising the way rents and charges are collected and how tenants are asked to pay to properly reflect the legal position in the tenancy agreement and tenancy conditions. 2. Analysis of need and impact | Protected group | Findings | | --- | --- | | Age | Census 2011:
2011 Census Table KS102 Age structure Wandsworth No. % Rank/348 Las Age 0 to 4 21,670 7.1 46 Age 5 to 7 9,230 3.0 286 Age 8 to 9 5,344 1.7 339 Age 10 to 14 12,521 4.1 344 Age 15 2,241 0.7 345 Age 16 to 17 4,621 1.5 345 Age 18 to 19 5,541 1.8 344 Age 20 to 24 23,699 7.7 59 Age 25 to 29 47,217 15.4 2 Age 30 to 44 93,803 30.6 1 Age 45 to 59 43,539 14.2 346 Age 60 to 64 10,658 3.5 34

FAQs

What change does the analysis focus on?

The analysis focuses on A and B rent payments within Wandsworth’s Rent Collection Service.

Why may tenants experience distress despite no intended direct impact?

Some tenants may not understand the changes and could perceive the Council as charging more rent, including receiving a rent arrears letter that differed under the previous system.

How does the document plan to mitigate misunderstanding and enquiries?

Changes will not be implemented immediately, but alongside the new IT system going live in May 2019. Extensive resident consultation will be carried out, and the RCS will directly target those most affected.

Sep 16, 2026

Uploaded by Mali