Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 May 2022
232. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if each tenant of a local-authority house has to individually inform the relevant local authority of annual increases in social welfare rates of payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26998/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe right of local authorities to set and collect rents on their dwellings is laid down in section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of differential rent schemes and the calculation of the rent payable is an executive function and is subject to broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay.
It is my understanding that while local authorities can carry out periodic rent reviews to ensure that the correct rent is applied to an individual tenancy, the tenancy agreements in place between a local authority and its tenants stipulate that it is the tenants’ responsibility to inform the local authority of any changes in circumstances, including any changes to income, so that the rent payable can be reassessed. Early notification of any income changes can help prevent the accrual of arrears.
