In a bid to save money on its Housing Benefit (HB) bill CURO Housing has just imposed an April 1st 7.1% rent hike increasing at a stroke its annual HB bill by £3m At the same time it has issued bedroom tax notification letters to 1000 of its tenants, which have no legal basis demanding tenants either sign the emclosed piece of paper agreeing to pay up or if unable to vacate their homes ASAP and move into non-existent 1 bedroom accommodation. This to save £1m in its annual HB bill

This overall increase of £2m in CURO’s annual income serves two right and profitable purposes 1) it helps service its debts of £179m which have so far cost its tenants £90m plus in interest charges alone 2) it allows senior CURO management to continue to pay themselves £130,000 - £150,000 pa which no doubt goes some way to servicing their monthly mortgage payments on their 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 bedroom homes as befitting their status.

CURO’s Bedroom Tax Enforcement Officers should understand that its tenants will not be vacating their homes anytime soon. The attempt to circumvent our legally binding tenancy agreements by demanding the impossible is tantamount to constructive eviction which must be resisted at all costs.