An innovative app is helping Birmingham tenants use shopping discounts to pay rent
Birmingham City Council tenants can now get extra help with paying their rent because of an app that gives discounts at many big stores across the country.
The Housing Perks app offers shopping discounts for tenants at retailers such as Sainsbury's, ASDA, Morrisons, and Argos, helping them to save money on everyday essentials.
The app now has a new feature that allows tenants to use their discounts to save on shopping or put the money they save toward paying their rent.
Many tenants are already using the Housing Perks app; to date, 6,000 have downloaded it, collectively saving around £22,000.
Councillor Nicky Brennan, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, said:
"We are committed to doing all we can to support our tenants through the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, and I am pleased to add the Housing Perks app to our other cost-of-living support.
"Budgeting and managing household bills can be challenging, so we are giving tenants the option to pay any savings made through the Housing Perks app directly to their rent account.
“Now, when tenants are at the checkout, their carefully calculated weekly shopping baskets can provide extra relief with the knowledge that some of it is also going to help pay for rent repayments.
"By linking tenants' everyday spending to rent payments, we hope this innovative app will provide an additional way to help tenants keep on top of rent payments during this cost-of-living crisis.
Birmingham City Council tenants can find out more and download the Housing Perks app on the council website.
