SDCC owed more than €7m by tenants in rent arrears
By Maurice Garvey
OVER 50 per cent of council tenants are in rent arrears – owing over €7.7 million to South Dublin County Council.
Of the 11,331 council homes in the county, 5,793 are currently in arrears – the majority of which (2,453) are in arrears within the 0-12 weeks band.
SDCC has the lowest differental rent rate of the four Dublin local authorities – 10 per cent – which means tenants pay 10 per cent of their income towards rent each month.
However, latest finance figures from the end of June 2017, indicate SDCC are trying to recoup a total of €7,749,612 from tenants, with close to 1,500 homes in arrears by over a year, and some 744 homes in arrears by two years.
Independent councillor Francis Timmons said: “This is a huge revenue outstanding to the council. I would appeal to people with outstanding amounts to contact SDCC and come to an arrangement to pay. The more owed to SDCC, the less the council has to spend.
“I was one of the councillors that fought against a rent increase. I think the rent is very reasonable and affordable, compared to other councils. We’re not asking to pay excessively. €23 million was collected in rents in 2016, and 49 per cent of people that pay are to be commended for doing the right thing.
Cllr Timmons continued: “You can’t expect other people to pay property tax when others still owe money. It is finance that we need and could be spent on so many programmes like housing, womens refuge centres, roads, footpaths – everywhere is looking for finance. The rents are the lowest differential rent in Dublin and should be paid on time, or if missed, an arrangement with SDCC must be made.’’
A spokesperson for SDCC told The Echo: “The council is dealing with arrears by direct discussion with the tenants, putting in place debt-management plans, and now with the provision of on-line statements for tenants.
“The council has in some extreme cases issued warnings and will proceed through the legal route if necessary on those cases.”
The average arrears for each account is €1,300, whilst the average for tenants in the arrears band of two years is €3,600.
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