COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 08, 2016

QUESTION NO. 22

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Executive for a report into rents owed by Council housed occupiers by area and to include value, type of family by area and what efforts are being made to get this outstanding rent? Also to ask to include details of what kind of agreements are in place re same? upto the end of 2015

REPLY:

Arrears Profile 

The table below sets out profile of Rent Arrears as at 23/01/2016 per electoral area:

Electoral Area  Arrears Total
 Clondalkin 2,699,634
 Lucan 352,019
 Rathfarnham 346,339
 Tallaght Central 411,230
 Tallaght South 3,415,425
 Templeogue - Terenure    176,995
  7,401,642

Please note the arrears balance includes rent charged on Saturday 23/01/2016 (i.e. gale day) and does not reflect any rent payments that may be received in respect of that gale day.

Arrangements to Repay Arrears

   

In Arrears

 

% Arrangements

Clondalkin

 

2230

 

74%

Lucan

 

500

 

56%

Rathfarnham

 

388

 

71%

Tallaght Central

 

517

 

61%

Tallaght South

 

2898

 

70%

Templeogue

 

151

 

50%

 

 

6684

 

69%

Profile of Income sources in relation to accounts in arrears:

Source of Income  No. of Tenancies %
 Employment Income only 1019 10% 
 Social Welfare Income only 6384 61%
 Employment & Social Welfare Income 2996 29%
 Total 10399 100%

The Council operates its Differential Rent Scheme to ensure that the rent charged is reasonable and does not create hardship/financial difficulties.  The rent is based on 10% approximately of total net household income, with many income sources being disregarded for rent purposes.

Notwithstanding the economic rent of 10% charged under the Differential Rent Scheme, tenants continue to fail meeting their rent obligations.

The Council's Rents Team administers a system of early intervention by way of contact with tenants who are at risk of falling into arrears as early in the process as possible. Tenants who are falling behind with rent payments are encouraged to make contact with the Housing Rents Team for the purpose of reviewing their financial circumstances and negotiating arrangements for payment of their weekly differential rent plus a realistic and tenable amount towards their rent arrears.

Going forward rent arrears management will target resources at those estates with highest levels of rent arrears and prevention through monitoring all new tenancies in an effort to prevent build-up of substantial arrears.