In what is believed to be the most extensive study of its kind, examining over 1.1 million social tenancies owned by RentSense users and 2 million tenancies owned by non-RentSense users to evaluate the impact of the software in a number of different areas including evictions due to rent arrears, numbers of tenants in debt and rent arrears.
The study into evictions found that social landlords using RentSense (in 2018) had an eviction rate due to arrears of 3.92 per 1,000 properties, whereas non-RentSense users’ eviction rate was 4.27. Further research by QuantSpark looking at a three-year period, from 2015-2018, found that RentSense users reduced their evictions (due to arrears) by 37.8% compared to 13.3% of non-RentSense users
The research analysed both total current tenants’ arrears and non-Universal Credit (non-UC) arrears. On average, the impact of RentSense on non-UC arrears is to reduce them by 0.8 of a percentage point in year one and by 1.6 percentage points in the first twenty four months, which is the equivalent of 29.6% reduction. Across the dataset analysed this was equivalent to £600,000 per 10,000 properties over two years
When analysing total current tenants’ arrears (which includes Universal Credit and non-Universal Credit tenancies) RentSense again delivers a substantial reduction, this time 0.3 of a percentage point in year one, and 0.6 of a percentage point in the first two years, which is the equivalent 11.54% reduction despite Universal Credit.
The study also found that social landlords using RentSense reduced the number of tenants in arrears by 7 percentage points over the first two years of use, which was the equivalent of 11.5%, after which the number stabilised and remained the same, helping landlords reduce the number of tenants in debt.
“This independent study by QuantSpark has highlighted how RentSense enables landlords to offer more timely support to their tenants which has a positive impact on evictions, arrears as well helping customers out of debt.”
Paul Evans, Commercial Director, Mobysoft
“From a strategic point of view, despite the fiscal environment and welfare reform Sovereign’s arrears have fallen year on year for five years and RentSense has been instrumental in helping us achieve that. It has also created efficiencies and capacity within Sovereign, so we are able to tackle welfare reform.”
Luke Bingham, Regional Director, Sovereign
“We invested in RentSense instead of additional resource and our arrears have reduced year on year whilst the risks and challenges have increased throughout. The risk has been higher, the resource has been static and yet arrears have come down, that is because of how we have targeted our resource, and that comes down to RentSense,”
Jan Goode, Neighbourhoods Director, South Staffordshire Housing Association