'This is ridiculous' - Anger as Leitrim residents hit out at Local Authority over rent increases
The rent increases came into effect last Friday
There is growing anger among local authority tenants across Leitrim following substantial rent increases which came into effect on Friday, with some tenants reporting rises of more than 300%.
The increases follow a rent review, understood to be the first carried out by Leitrim County Council in 17 years.
Two meetings were held last week to allow tenants to voice their concerns, with one taking place at The Breffni Family Resource Centre in Carrick-on-Shannon on Thursday night and another at the Hyde Terrace Centre in Mohill on Friday night.
One tenant who spoke to the Observer said her rent had increased by 362%, despite both she and her husband working.
“I was under no illusions that the rent would increase. However, my rent has increased by 362%,” she explained.
“Both my husband and myself work.”
“The rent increase was a shock to us, but there are others worse off. I think there were 1,000 letters issued to tenants,” she added.
The tenant said she believed the increases were a consequence of the length of time since the previous review.
“These rent increases are as a result of 17 years of the council not doing their job,” she stated.
She also questioned the calculation of her own increase, saying
“The increase in our rent was calculated by the combined wages of my husband and myself. I wrote to the council about this and I got a two line response,” she commented.
According to the tenant, people experiencing financial hardship as a result of the increases are being directed towards MABS.
“This is ridiculous, as it take a few months to get an appointment with MABS,” she stated.
She also claimed that some tenants had refused to pay the additional amount following the rent increases.
“Nobody paid this increase throughout the county. They paid their existing rent but not the additional rent,” she added.
The tenant also raised concerns about repairs to council homes, claiming that some tenants were experiencing delays in having problems addressed.
“I know of a woman who had no heat for two months because her air to water system wasn’t fixed. She has two young children,” she commented.
The meeting in the Breffni Centre was attended by Deputy Martin Kenny (SF), Cllr Cormac Flynn (SF) and Cllr Paddy Farrell (FF).
Cllr Farrell said there was significant anger among tenants over the increases.
“There has been no rent reviews for some time. However, some rents have went up by 100%,” he stated.
Cllr Farrell said he had received a number of complaints from tenants.
“I have taken a lot of phone calls and received a lot of emails from tenants in relation to the increases,” he commented.
“My advice to tenants affected is to write to the council about their own situation,” he added.
Cllr Irene Guckian-Rabbitte (Ind) attended the meeting in Mohill and described the timing of the increases as “unfortunate”.
“People understand that rents have to increase. However, it is unfortunate timing given that electricity, fuel and food have all increased in price,” she stated.
She also raised concerns about the notice period given to tenants.
“Tenants were given 10 days notice of the increases. It was a shock to tenants. It could also mean that tenants could be, on paper at least, going into arrears as a result of the increases,” she said.
“There are tenants who have made great efforts not to go into arrears,” she added.
Cllr Guckian-Rabbitte said tenants were being listened to and that their individual circumstances could be addressed.
“People are being listened to and their fears are being dealt with,” she commented.
“Every tenant’s case is individual and each tenant can work with the council,” she added.
The Annaduff-based councillor said there were supports available to tenants experiencing financial difficulty.
“Tenants can go through the MABS service if they are in difficulty,” she stated.
“I have had people ringing me regularly in relation to the rent increases,” she added.
Cllr Guckian-Rabbitte said she was hopeful the rent changes would not have long-term consequences for tenants.
“If people are listened to, hopefully things will even out in time,” she commented.
In response to the concerns raised by tenants and councillors, the Observer sought a comment from Leitrim County Council. The Council said all tenants are affected by the new differential rent scheme, with approximately 52% of all households changing by less than an additional €20 per week.
The Council said that, in developing the new scheme, every effort had been made to balance the need to ensure that rents remain affordable and linked to a household’s ability to pay with the need for sustainable funding for housing service delivery.
It said the income from the implementation of the new differential rent scheme will support housing service delivery, improved maintenance and retrofit, and tenancy support.
On hardship arrangements, the Council said it understands that every household has unique circumstances and is committed to working constructively with tenants who may be facing financial difficulties.
The Housing Department is engaging with the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) to ensure that tenants seeking a review of their rent assessment on hardship grounds can access appropriate advice and support, the Council said.
“Leitrim County Council would like to reassure tenants that support will be available for households experiencing genuine financial hardship,” the Council said.