There has been a “significant increase” in new applications for Universal Credit in Richmond.

Council officers revealed there were 191 new applications for the benefit from the borough’s social housing residents in April, compared to an average of 45 a month.

That’s an increase of 324 per cent.

The shocking figures were discussed at Monday’s Adult Social Services, Health and Housing Committee (June 1).

Cllr Jim Millard, tenant’s champion for the borough, said there is a “concern” that social housing tenants may have struggled during the pandemic.

“Obviously the way that Universal Credit is rolled out for new applicants is not ideal and people often have to wait weeks with nothing and then face rent arrears being collected on top of their normal rent,” he said.

“If you’re really truly struggling to make ends meet that makes managing your finances even more difficult.”

However he praised Richmond Housing Partnership (RHP) and PA Housing, the borough’s main providers of social housing, for helping signpost their residents to help.

Officers also revealed there had been around a five per cent drop in rent collected by RHP, however, they said this may be due to Universal Credit or a number of other reasons.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

They also said the council will need to monitor and “be wary” of a sharp rise in homelessness demand later in the year.

Last week the government confirmed it would extend the suspension of eviction action from social and privately rented accommodation until August 23, but it is not known what help will be in place after that.

Dave Worth, assistant director for housing services said: “It will be something we need to look at closely to see whether there will be a rush to pursue eviction action, particularly if tenants who have been furloughed or might have lost work have fallen into arrears.

“Going forward, through the remainder of the year, it seems like there will be a fairly significant impact to the national economy and as we know, where we get recession, homelessness follows fairly quickly after.”

During the lockdown the council has housed 54 rough sleepers.

That is higher than the number of people the council understood to be homeless before the pandemic as sadly some people became newly homeless under lockdown.

The cost of hotels and serviced apartments has cost the council £90,000 a month, averaging at roughly £55 a night per placement.