COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
QUESTION NO. 16
QUESTION: Councillor D. O'Brien
"To ask the Chief Executive to provide a report on rent arrears owed by Council tenants in the Lucan LEA providing the total amount of arrears owed in 2012, 2013 & 2014, the number of properties in arrears, and the interventions provided by the Council to assist tenants that are having difficulties paying their rents?"
REPLY:
There are currently 250 Council Rent accounts in arrears in the Lucan Local Electoral Area. The breakdown by amount is set out in the table below. 46% of the accounts are in arrears of less than €500. Comparative figures for 2012, or 2013 for the local areas are not available. However, the total amount of arrears owed for the whole County were €7,306,575 at 31/12/2012, and €7,250,232 at the 31/12/2013, a reduction of €56,343.
| € Value in Arrears | |
| > 0 < 500 | 114 |
| > =500 < 1000 | 34 |
| > =1000 < 1500 | 22 |
| > =1500 < 2000 | 16 |
| > =2000 < 2500 | 17 |
| > =2500 < 3000 | 11 |
| > =3000 < 3500 | 6 |
| > =3500 < 4000 | 5 |
| > =4000 < 4500 | 7 |
| > =4500 < 5000 | 6 |
| > =5000 < 5500 | 1 |
| > =5500 < 6000 | 2 |
| > =6000 < 6500 | 1 |
| > =6500 < 7000 | 0 |
| > =7000 < 7500 | 2 |
| > =7500 < 8000 | 0 |
| > =8000 < 8500 | 2 |
| > =8500 < 9000 | 1 |
| > =9000 < 9500 | 0 |
| > =9500 < 10000 | 0 |
| > =10000 < 10500 | 0 |
| > =10500 < 11000 | 0 |
| > =11000 < 11500 | 0 |
| > =11500 < 12000 | 0 |
| > =12000 < 12500 | 1 |
| > =12500 < 13000 | 0 |
| > =13000 < 13500 | 0 |
| > =13500 < 14000 | 1 |
| > =14000 < 14500 | 1 |
| > =14500 < 15000 | 0 |
| > =15000 < 15500 | 0 |
| > =16000 | 0 |
The Council encourages our tenants to contact the Rents Section as soon as they can if they are falling behind with their weekly payments. Housing Staff encourage tenants to enter into sustainable payment plans, to clear the arrears, based on their ability to pay. We encourage tenants in financial difficulty to contact the Money and Budgetary Advice Service (MABS). Any arrears warning notices issued to tenants have contact details of MABS. In addition the Housing Welfare Section are notified of cases where there may be medical grounds or welfare issues that may require specialised intervention and support. A Tenancy Sustainment service may be offered to the tenant based on need, and subject to resource availability. We encourage tenants to use Household Budget Deductions through An Post, where applicable, to pay their weekly rent.
Housing Rents staff are available to deal compassionately and professionally with any tenant who needs to discuss any difficulties in relation to his/her rent account or rent assessment.