COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, May 09, 2022
QUESTION NO. 12
QUESTION: Councillor David McManus
To ask the Chief Executive the number of housing rent accounts in arrears currently, the number as a percentage of total, and the number of these accounts in arrears more than one year, three years and five years, and if a statement can be made on efforts to ensure better collection?
REPLY:
The number of accounts currently in arrears is 5,859, this includes 2,161 accounts that are less than 6 weeks in arrears, leaving 3,698 accounts in arrears of more than 6 weeks.
5,859 represents 59% of the housing rents accounts in SDCC.
The accounts in arrears greater than one year are summarised as follows:
|
Number of accounts in arrears |
Number of years in arrears |
|
1065 |
1-3 years |
|
218 |
3-5 years |
|
67 |
Greater than 5 years |
The Council’s Debt Management Unit take a compassionate approach to tenants who have found themselves accruing housing rent arrears and have been endeavouring to engage with tenants in rent arrears through several means, including:
- Regular correspondence with tenants concerning their arrears
- “Face to face” contact with our Housing Inspectors to assist tenants to understand their arrears situation
- Discussing various payment options to address the arrears within a reasonable period
- Agreeing sustainable debt management plans to resolve the arrears issue.
During the period of the pandemic, in line with Government policy, the Debt Management Unit did not engage in any legal action for the recovery of dwellings. The Debt Management Unit continues to engage with tenants with arrears to assist in resolving their arrears. While the focus of the Debt Management Unit is to engage with tenants and help them address their arrears, it is becoming evident that a number of tenants are refusing to engage constructively in addressing their arrears which is resulting in an increase in litigation.