I am making the following request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

1. Does your Local Authority operate a Rent Deposit Scheme (financial support to residents to help them access accommodation in the private rented sector)?
Yes

2. If so, is your scheme operated as:
a) a loan (expectation of repayment): Yes
b) a grant (no expectation of repayment) or
c) a combination of the two.

3. What was the total value of loans and/or grants paid under the scheme in 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22
• 2018/19: £115,309.97
• 2019/20: £116, 965.29
• 2020/21: £109, 792.61
• 2021/22: £95,804.76

4. How many loans and/or grants were awarded in 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22
• 2018/19: 72
• 2019/20: 82
• 2020/21: 74
• 2021/22: 61

5. If your scheme requires repayment from residents, what was the outstanding debt owed to the Council in relation to the scheme in 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22?
We only have a running total of debt for the scheme which at the end of 2021/22 was £251,802

6. Excluding payments detailed in question 3, what is the annual cost of operating the scheme (staffing, administration costs) including debt recovery undertaken by council staff if applicable.
(Note: If you do not have the means to calculate an exact cost or if doing to will exceed the time limit for FOI responses, please provide an estimate)
We cannot provide costings as the Debt Recovery Service recovers debt across the whole council and not just for rent in advance and the Homelessness Prevention Officers who assist with the scheme carry out statutory duties and other non-statutory duties for all households in the borough who are homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days.

7. Has the Council commenced legal proceedings against residents to recover debt owed in relation to this scheme in the past four years.
No

8. If so, please advise how many residents have been subject to proceedings during this time?
Not applicable