Tenants benefit from RBH 'Pass it On' project

Mohammed Hayyidar from the RBH Pass It On Team

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing's Pass it On project provides new tenants with an affordable way of furnishing and decorating their homes and cuts the amount of refuge sent to landfill.

Furniture left behind by other residents or donated by the public is sold at heavily discounted prices and surplus paint from local merchants and supplies from a nationwide re-use network are also provided at low cost.

In 2013 the society supplied almost 1,000 items of furniture and since the paint scheme was set up in 2012, 850 litres have so far been distributed to 90 tenants and community groups. 

The paint scheme has saved the housing society around £45,000 in disposal costs which can be reinvested in neighbourhoods.

RBH’s research shows that tenants taking part in the project are far less likely to struggle with rent debt. The average rent debt of new tenants who received a paint delivery from the re-use scheme during its first six months (September 2013 - Mar 2014) was 78% lower than the average rent debt of new tenants from the same time period who did not.

Paul Blayney, from the Pass it On team, said: “As a mutual society we believe in coming together with our customers for the benefit of everyone.

“Pass it On is a brilliant scheme which has benefitted customers, communities and the environment.

“It makes setting up a home more affordable for many people and has also cut our disposal charges which frees up more money to invest in the community.

“Crucially it’s also helping people to see that we’re on their side and will do everything we can to help them stay in their homes as this is the best way to build strong neighbourhoods.”