Regulator examines 'failings' over council rent

A GOVERNMENT regulator has criticised a Devon council for “serious failings” after it overcharged its social housing tenants for more than two decades to the tune of £7.5 million.

- BRADLEY GERRARD Local Democracy Reporter

Mid Devon District Council reported itself to the Regulator for Social Housing (RSH) last year when an audit unearthed an issue with how it had calculated, and therefore charged, rent to its tenants.

The council, which has roughly 3,000 social housing homes, has overcharged more than 1,200 tenants a combined £7.5 million since 2002.

However, it has sought legal advice which it has said means it will only need to repay six years' worth of overpaid rent to individual tenants, which it has estimated would total up to around £1.8 million.

Some have questioned whether the council should be paying back the full amount owed to tenants, but the RSH has said the amount the council decides to refund “is a question for the council itself” and that such aspects are “not covered by our remit”.