FG seeks rent supplement crackdown

FINE GAEL is aiming to have rent supplements withdrawn from families involved in illegal drugs or antisocial behaviour.

Michael Noonan is seeking a crackdown on problem families being housed with the help of rent allowances from the HSE.

From next year, it is proposed the scheme will be transferred from the HSE to the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Mr Noonan said he wants an amendment to the Act setting out the terms of the transfer.

The ex-justice and health minister said: “The amendment I have in mind would set out a protocol on the behaviour of tenants and if tenants were in breach of this protocol they would lose their rent allowance.

“The type of protocol I have in mind would be signed by both the tenants and the private letting landlord and by an official of the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

“It would state that persons who have breached the protocol would lose their rent allowance.”

Mr Noonan said tenants involved in criminal activity will lose their rent allowance as would tenants causing antisocial behaviour.

Tenants carrying out inappropriate trades from their house would also come under the new rules.

The Limerick East TD said: “Landlords will be responsible for the maintenance, upkeep and disposal of refuse at their property and, if in breach of the protocol, would be found ineligible for the scheme.

“There has been significant antisocial behaviour imported into quiet neighbourhoods throughout the city by tenants in private rented accommodation.

“The finger of blame has been pointed at Limerick City Council, Limerick County Council and the regeneration boards but, in my experience, local authority tenants are vetted and fit well into residential neighbourhoods.

“The culprits causing trouble in neighbourhoods are, by and large, tenants of private landlords.

“A thriving rental sector is vital to the economic and social life of our city, but both landlords and tenants must ensure that tenants follow lifestyles compatible with their neighbourhoods.

“When the taxpayer is subsidising the rent, the minister for social and family affairs must ensure tenants are not ruining the lifestyles of their neighbours.”

In Limerick city and county, the scheme costs in excess of €20m yearly, with the rents of more than 3,000 tenants supplemented. Single tenants may be paid up to €79 weekly under the scheme and married couples, with three children, may receive the maximum of €148 weekly.

Mr Noonan said: “There must be a quid pro quo to ensure good behaviour by tenants and landlords alike. So far, the minister has refused to amend the scheme.

“In a recent reply to a Dáil Question put down by me, she stated that her department will operate the scheme exactly the same way as the HSE did.

“This is not good enough and I will continue to campaign for this much-needed change to the scheme.

“When €20m a year is being provided by the taxpayers to fund the scheme, the very least taxpayers should expect is that the supplement will not be paid to tenants involved in crime and antisocial behaviour.”