Rent & Income
The biggest improvements in rent collection aren't coming from stronger enforcement. They're coming from helping residents pay — by identifying unclaimed benefits, aligning payment schedules with real life, and intervening before the first missed payment.
Policy in Practice's LIFT platform has helped Wandsworth Council residents secure £21 million in lifetime benefits — targeting households missing out on pension credit, attendance allowance, free school meals and water support. Entitledto is helping Hyde Housing tenants access an average of £2,800 more per year. IncomeMax has unlocked over £1.2 million through targeted financial support at Southern Housing. For the residents involved, these aren't marginal gains — they're the difference between managing and not managing.
Payment flexibility is making a measurable difference too. Aligning Direct Debits with Universal Credit payment cycles has reduced failed payments by 15% in pilots. Flexible rent schedules have pushed collection rates to 98% compared to a 90% baseline — simply by fitting around how residents are actually paid.
The shift is from chasing arrears to preventing them. Data platforms identifying risk before the first missed payment. Digital tools reducing friction in how residents interact, making it simpler to pay, update information, or access support. For residents, rent becomes something manageable — not a source of ongoing pressure.
Case studies
Written-up examples from UK housing providers, with named organisations and measurable outcomes.
Used Policy in Practice's LIFT data analytics platform to identify low-income households eligible for unclaimed benefits and proactively reach out before financial difficulties escalate to rent arrears.
£21 million in lifetime benefits secured for residents through LIFT-driven campaigns. Support delivered across pension credit, attendance allowance, free school meals and water social tariffs. Proactive data-led outreach targeting households at risk of financial difficulty.
Deployed Entitledto's benefits calculator to help residents understand and access their entitlements, integrated into the housing provider's existing resident-facing services.
Average of £2,800 per year in additional income unlocked per tenant. Reduced financial pressure on residents, fewer arrears cases progressing to formal action.
Worked with IncomeMax to provide targeted financial inclusion support to residents, helping them access benefits, grants, and other financial support they were entitled to but not receiving.
Over £1.2 million in additional financial support unlocked for residents. Reduced arrears, improved financial stability, and stronger relationships between housing officer and tenant.
Also worth reading
Further examples from the Proven Public database — not yet written up in full.