Authorities owed 30m in unpaid housing rent

LOCAL authorities are owed almost 30 million in unpaid rent from council housing tenants.

The level of arrears has risen by 10% per year in recent years, despite the economic boom. Dublin’s four local authorities account for more than half the rent arrears nationally, according to Government figures.

Money from rent is ploughed back into maintenance and refurbishment of local authority houses and estates. However, because so much money is owed to local authorities, they cannot afford to carry out repair work, resulting in longer delays for those on housing waiting lists.