More than €1m owed in rent and loans

CLARE County Council is owed more than €1 million of arrears in rent and loans to householders, latest figures have revealed.
At this week’s meeting of Clare County Council, councillors were told that a total of €795,184 is owed in rents, while a further €379,916 is owed to the council in loans, including tenant purchase loans and affordable housing loans.
According to the breakdown of figures as of October 31, 2010, more than half of all shared ownership rents are in arrears, while 73% of home improvement loans are in arrears.
Councillor Pat McMahon, speaking at the meeting, urged anybody who finds themselves in financial difficulty to speak to the council about finding a solution, rather than “running away and facing a worse situation”.
Councillor Gerry Flynn said he was “alarmed” by the situation, adding, “the last time I checked we aren’t the St Vincent de Paul”.
Councillor Johnny Flynn added, “There are people who can’t pay and people who don’t want to pay”. He continued, “There are certain sectors who see the local authority as a soft touch”.
The council was called on to review the shared ownership scheme by Councillor Martin Conway. Councillor Patricia McCarthy asked what actions are being taken to deal with this. She suggested that rent and loans be deducted at source from any social welfare benefits.
Councillor Tommy Brennan argued, “If people can see others getting away with paying, other people will follow”.
Director of services for housing, social and cultural services, Bernadette Kinsella explained the experience of the council in collecting arrears “reflects the experience of institutions generally in the current climate”.
She said there are traditionally a high number of shared ownership loans issued by the council. She added that the council operates a code of conduct in relation to mortgage arrears, including meeting with people and trying to work with them.
“It is only as a last resort we would take stronger actions,” she said. Rent arrears are looked at on the same basis, she commented.