Advice is offered to council tenants struggling to pay their rent in Renfrewshire as early as possible, a senior officer has said.

It comes as concerns were raised about residents being pushed into financial stress by the brutal nature of the cost-of-living crisis.

Councillor Colin McCulloch, Labour group housing spokesperson, previously said it was clear the “continued grip of inflation” was eating into people’s earnings “in a way that is unparalleled in modern times”.

He asked staff about the support being offered to tenants facing hardship and financial difficulty at Tuesday’s communities and housing policy board – and was told help is given at “the earliest opportunity”.

Councillor McCulloch, who represents Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank, said: “It would be useful to know if the Advice Works advisors are able to carry out home visits to help those who are unable to access our offices and premises and how often are our housing officers in the communities?

“What I’m thinking is the visible presence of our staff in the communities will help highlight the support we can offer by having those conversations in the communities and improve accessibility.

“It’s more to see, what are we doing to promote that on the ground and on the streets?”

Derek Murray, the council’s area housing manager, responded: “With regards to income advice, we look to provide advice at the earliest opportunity with regards to any identification of pressure that’s on the rent account and suggestion that the tenant is likely to fall into arrears.”

He confirmed tenants are signposted to Advice Works, the council’s money and debt advice service, but said it does not do home visits – instead conducting appointments via phone or in-person at a premises.

Mr Murray added: “What we deem low-level welfare advice, our housing officers will carry out. That’s primarily regarding the rental income.

“What will then happen is, based on conversations when we are in the community, it may lead itself to further signposting into what we deem specialist income advice and to open a gateway to other benefit entitlement or grant entitlement.

“That’s the process that we follow...We have taken cognisance that some people do prefer to see and have the housing officers in the community. That’s led to us doing an actual review of the uniform that the housing officers are wearing.

“During and post-pandemic we had reverted to a more casual attire but we are reverting back now to a more visible uniform, so that should hopefully demonstrate a presence.

“I can certainly confirm we are out, we are about, we do have discussions with the tenant and resident base.”