Supporting tenants through the crisis
Housing associations and local authorities in Wales recognise that this is a very uncertain and difficult time for tenants.
COVID-19 is rapidly changing the world around us, and having a profound impact on people’s jobs, communities and lives. Housing associations provide homes to more than 250,000 tenants in Wales, as well as providing essential housing-related support and wellbeing services.
To support tenants through the crisis, housing associations and local authorities have signed up to key commitments detailed below.
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- Housing associations will keep tenants safe and secure in their home
- Housing associations will help tenants get the financial support they need
- Housing associations will support tenants and find solutions if they have difficulty paying rent
- Housing associations will do everything they can to support tenants’ wellbeing
Find out where to access support from housing associations across Wales here (PDF).
To showcase this work, and raise awareness of the support available to tenants, we have developed a campaign called ‘With You'. Read more here.
Download the #WithYou campaign social media assets at the bottom of this page.
Housing associations will keep tenants safe and secure in their home
Nobody will be evicted from our homes as a result of financial hardship caused by COVID-19, and housing associations will continue to work towards ending all evictions into homelessness.
Housing associations will help tenants get the financial support they need
Many social landlords provide their own financial advice and support, and many work with local providers who are adapting to working in this new environment. Housing associations will ensure that our tenants receive the advice that is appropriate for their situation. This could include:
- Support to navigate the welfare system and access Universal Credit and other benefits that people are entitled to
- Supporting people to access emergency payments to meet their energy costs
- Delivering emergency food parcels or supporting them to access services such as food banks
- Supporting people to access other emergency grants and support that may be available
- Ensuring that no tenants are left with unmanageable housing related debts when the coronavirus crisis is over
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Housing associations will support tenants and find solutions if they have difficulty paying rent
Paying rent is important to ensure housing associations can continue to provide essential services, such as maintaining homes and keeping them safe.
However, we recognise that with the huge impact on people’s jobs and livelihoods, some will experience a sudden or significant loss to their income. Housing associations are here to help, and have staff who will be able to support tenants through this difficult period.
Where people experience financial difficulties, their staff will listen, advise and support tenants to make suitable arrangements to pay their rent that are affordable and manageable for the long term.
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Housing associations will do everything they can to support tenants’ wellbeing
Social landlords are working around the clock to provide a wide variety of support to tenants to ensure both their physical and mental wellbeing are the best they can be. They have a range of support available to tenants, which could include:
- Accessing community and support services digitally to keep tenants and staff safe
- Support to access mental health and other community health services
- Online groups and phone calls to check in on tenants’ wellbeing and to support them if they are lonely or isolated
- Regularly contacting their most vulnerable tenants to ensure they are able to access the support that is available
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If you would like to speak to a member of CHC about the work housing associations are doing to financially support tenants during this time, please contact Aaron Hill aaron-hill@chcymru.org.uk.
Get involved
To showcase this work, and raise awareness of the support available to tenants, we have developed a campaign called ‘With You'. Read more here.
You can get involved in the campaign by sending stories or case studies to catrin-harries@chcymru.org.uk and by using the hashtag #WithYou on social media.