COUNCIL IS OWED €4.2M IN RENTS

But local authority says there will be NO write-offs for non-paying tenants

THERE will be no ‘write offs’ for council tenants who have rent arrears owed to the local authority, despite almost €4.2 million debts confirmed.

The figures emerged in Louth County Council’s monthly housing report, where rising arrears have been identified.

Dundalk Municipal Committee chairman Cllr Mark Dearey told The Argus: ‘ This is a very serious figure, but I welcome the fact that more than half are in repayment plans, so it doesn’t mean that the money is unrecoverable.’

‘ Tenants should be aware that the council cannot offer write offs. Asking them to do that is asking them to work outside of the law.’

A spokesman for Louth County Council confirmed that the local authority are working with tenants who are in debt to recover monies owed.

The spokesman said: ‘A considerable portion of this figure arises from debits applied after the previous and current rent assessments where income details were discovered to have changed or additional occupants were identified.

The Council are working with these tenants to agree payment plans.’

He added: ‘ There is no provision to write off such debts in these circumstances, and tenants are obliged to notify the local authority when these details change.’

Cllr Dearey said the figure was an indication of ‘emergence from a deep recession.’

‘For anyone who has rents owed, the only to plough through this debt is to set up some repayment plan with the council.’