COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, February 13, 2017
QUESTION NO.30
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? what are rent Scales paid to SDCC?
REPLY:
Arrears Profile
The table below sets out profile of Rent Arrears as at 21/01/2017 per electoral area:
|
Electoral Area |
Amount |
|
Clondalkin |
€2,696,183 |
|
Lucan |
€454,265 |
|
Rathfarnham |
€324,343 |
|
Tallaght Central |
€445,620 |
|
Tallaght South |
€3,592,706 |
|
Templeogue - Terenure |
€176,750 |
|
Total |
€7,689,867 |
Please note the arrears balance includes rent charged on Saturday 21/01/2017 (i.e gale day) and does not reflect any rent payments that may be received in respect of that gale day. It should also be noted that Rent arrears have dropped in the past 12 months.
Arrangements to Repay Arrears
|
Electoral Area |
A/Cs in Arrears |
Arrangements in place |
|
Clondalkin |
2248 |
72% |
|
Lucan |
520 |
53% |
|
Rathfarnham |
402 |
68% |
|
Tallaght Central |
527 |
58% |
|
Tallaght South |
2960 |
69% |
|
Templeogue - Terenure |
150 |
47% |
|
Total |
6807 |
67% |
Profile of Income sources in relation to accounts in Arrears:
|
Source of Income |
Tenancies |
|
Employment Income Only |
1136 |
|
Social Welfare Income Only |
6163 |
|
Employment and Social Welfare |
3170 |
|
Total |
10469 |
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 to meet 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 Debt Management Plan 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 on an areas with the aim to provide an annual review of all rents by 2018. The Housing Inspectorate will continue to provide early intervention and help tenants with arrears to manage their accounts in line the Council Rents Policy.