Three landlords granted orders against tenants in district court

THREE landlords were granted orders against slow paying tenants at a civil sitting of the District Court in Wexford following determinations by the Residential Tenancies Board.

The first case was brought to court by a New Ross couple looking for more than €2,000 from the occupant of their town centre property.

The granting of the order for the amount sought was not contested.

Both flat owner and tenant were present before Judge John Cheatle in the second matter which concerned an apartment in Wexford town.

The court was told that the RTB determined that €638 was outstanding in unpaid rent back in March of this year.

However, the amount sought rose to more than €2,000 as the landlord stated that the keys had still not been returned and the tenant’s possessions remained in the flat.

The rent was set at a weekly €110 per week, though social welfare put up €69.50 of this for a while.

The woman assured the judge that she had left the place and that she would remove her possessions the following day.

The landlord complained that carpets in the apartment had been destroyed, while damage had also been done to furniture, electrical appliances, doors and beds, which he stated were all in good condition when the tenancy commenced.

He was granted an order for €2,399, plus costs, with a formal order for possession.

The tenant said she accepted full responsibility but warned that she could only offer payment at a rate of €30 or €40 per week.

The third case was taken by a property owner with an address at Basildon in the UK against his former tenant, a woman now living in County Donegal who did not attend the courthouse at Belvedere Road in Wexford.

Appearing for the applicant, solicitor Brendan Curran said there had been significant damage done to the property which was vacated a year ago.

The RTB determination was for €3,664 but the amount outstanding was reduced to €3,504 after allowance was made for four €40 payments off the bill.