By Martyn Smith
Dudley Council was owed nearly 拢3m in unpaid rent at the end of the last financial year, according to its latest accounts. Arrears from current tenants amounted to 拢1.9m while unpaid rents from former tenants added another 917,000 to the 拢2.8m total. Despite the size of the arrears, accounts show an improvement on the previous year when the council closed its accounts with 拢3m in unpaid rent. Read more: Swing removed just days after ‘farce’ installation at Midland park Read more: Anger after safety fears lead to ‘brutal’ treatment of hedgerow Housing is accounted for in a separate ring-fenced part of the council’s budget and figures for 2024/25 reveal a surplus of 拢24.9m, significantly better than the 2023/24 surplus of 拢8.6m One of the reasons for the improved performance was an extra 拢7m income which included a jump in cash raised from charges for services and facilities. Income from charges rose from 拢383,000 in 2023/24 to 拢1.1m in 2024/25. Another big earner for the council’s Housing Revenue Account was the sale of non-current assets, which include properties like homes, garages and shops used for housing services. In 2023/24 Dudley Council made 拢2.5m for the sale of this type of asset while in 2024/25 the gain was significantly higher at 拢14.3m. During the last financial year Dudley sold or demolished 332 dwellings and bought or built two homes which took its total housing stock to 20,733. Council tax brings in the majority of Dudley’s income and the council performed well in collecting the local tax. Figures from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show the average collection rate in England was 95.9 per cent in 2024/25; however, Dudley shows an assumed collection rate of 98.5 per cent. Don’t miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the BirminghamLive newsletter here Allowing for exemptions and tax relief the authority raised 拢186.3m from council tax, 拢11.4m up on the previous year. Income from business rates was up from 2023/24 by 拢5.2m to 拢88.1m. The authority wrote off 拢500,000 in council tax and 拢600,000 in business rates which were deemed uncollectable.