Council criticised for delays in rent review

LOCAL Councillor David Saurin has criticised Louth County Council for the delays in the processing of rent reviews.

The councillor went to far as to accuse them of being responsible for putting some tenants into arrears because of the delays.

‘I have been contacted by tenants of Louth County Council who through no fault of their own have been issued with large bills for rent arrears, in some cases running into thousands of euro,’ he said.

‘ This is due to the fact that it can take up to twenty weeks from when a tenant submits a form for rent review to the case being processed. If that review then shows there should be an increase in their rent, it is being backdated 20 weeks and the tenant is handed a huge bill.’

‘ This delay means that Louth County Council is effectively responsible for putting their own tenants in arrears.’ Cllr Saurin raised the issue at the last meeting of Drogheda Municipal District and was reassured that this delay in processing submissions should be resolved in the first few months of the new year.

‘ That is of little comfort to people who have received demands for rent arrears through the Council’s own system failure, these notices of arrears have caused distress and anxiety to people who have done nothing wrong, in fact who have tried to do the right thing. ‘I asked at the Drogheda Borough meeting that the Council act to reassure those who they’ve caused to go into arrears that their cases will be dealt with favourably and with a large degree of understanding when it comes to resolving the issue of their arrears. Also to reassure people that it will not impact negatively on their rights or requirements as tenants.’