Council 'winning' arrears fight

A campaign to collect rent arrears from tenants had resulted in £100,000 being recovered last month, a council said.

Luton Borough Council evicted 74 tenants for rent arrears last year and has urged others with debts to pay up or risk losing their home.

The council is aiming to cut a further £100,000 of the outstanding £909,000 arrears by the end of March.

Anyone with financial problems or debts who cannot pay their rent has been urged to contact the council.

Tom Shaw, portfolio holder for housing, said: "We are cracking down on tenants who won't pay their bills.

"We work closely with the Citizens Advice Bureau to help people in debt and although we try to avoid evicting people, we do so when necessary."