HDC: Not enough focus on rent

THE $120 million in rent which is owed to the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) over the last decade is due “ to the fact a lot of attention may not have been paid on debt recovery efforts in the past.” The HDC made this comment in response to questions posed by Newsday yesterday.

On Monday, HDC managing director Brent Lyons said approximately 3,000 people owed this quantum of rent to the corporation. Lyons said this figure is a revolving fund and the people owing rent to the HDC are not the same group of people.

The HDC said over the last year, it has adopted a multi-pronged approach to debt collection. These include letters being dispatched to delinquent clients and follow up calls being made; notices being placed in the newspapers, urging delinquent clients to come in to settle their accounts; home visits being made to delinquent clients using the HDC’s Debt Recovery vehicle. The HDC said this approach will ensure that these clients receive the correspondence from the HDC advising of their outstanding balance ad urging them to settle their accounts. This will also negate the number of clients who claim ignorance or non-receipt of correspondence. The HDC said negligence, retrenchment, illness and unemployment are some of the reasons why people are not paying rent. The corporation also has specific ways in which homeowners can pay rent.

These include payment over the counter at the cashier’s unit at the HDC’s office, by cash, cheque or LINX; standing order and salary deduction.

Addressing a housing distribution ceremony at Vieux Fort housing development in St James on Monday, the Prime Minister warned HDC home owners, “If you don’t pay your rent, we will put you out. There is no bligh to be had.