St Leger Homes of Doncaster – the organisation that manages just over 21,000 properties for Doncaster Council – is working in partnership with Doncaster Council’s Housing Benefits section to carry out this initiative. So far 12,000 questionnaires have been completed and the work has identified almost 1,000 tenants who may be eligible for housing benefits – but for one reason or another they weren’t claiming it.

As a result some of these tenants have claimed nearly £50,000 a year in housing benefit plus backdated awards totalling more than £22,000. Ten of these tenants have been awarded housing benefit of over £50 per week. Some tenants have also been awarded Council Tax Benefit totalling nearly £11,500 and other benefits such as Income Support. Martin Musgrave, Chief Executive of St Leger Homes, said: “We want to help our tenants as much as possible. For example, the survey will highlight if a tenant has a physical disability, so when a member of staff or workman visits their home they know it will take longer for the tenant to answer the door.

It also makes us aware of tenants who need our newsletter in large print or in audio format, so we can let them know the latest news and information. "The questionnaire has also given us a good understanding of the different language needs of our tenants,” he added. “Besides this, these questionnaires are also helping us to advise our tenants on the benefits they are entitled to.”