Council tenants facing rent hikes will have to produce evidence of hardship

Council housing tenants facing rent increases in parts of Co Cork will have to get proof from Money & Advice Budgeting Service (Mabs) to show an inability to pay any extra.

The increases will primarily affect residents in the north and west Cork divisions of Cork County Council. In some cases, rents could be doubled.

Council management decided to hike rents in rural areas in line with those charged in the southern division — which covers the more affluent peripheries of the city along with Youghal, Midleton, Glanmire, Blarney, Kinsale, Macroom and Bandon.

Councillors in the northern division criticised the move, warning it will clog up the already overstretched Mabs service, which is pinned to its collar to deal with the fallout from the recession.

They also hit out at management for unilaterally introducing “significant” rent increases in the two regions.

Some tenants facing increases are living in substandard, draught-ridden accommodation and spending a small fortune keeping themselves warm during lengthening winters, it was claimed.

Cllr Frank O’Flynn (FF) said one woman’s rent will be increased from €16.50 to €40.50 a week and was having to deal with the likelihood that her three children will go hungry.

Cllr Ronan Sheehan (Lab) placed the blame firmly at the council’s door. “It was an executive decision. I know people who have to pay €30 a week extra. That’s €1,500 a year more. It was the most absolutely ridiculous decision to do this. It’s different in the country to the city.

“Near the city they pay more in private rental accommodation because of proximity to services. Nothing is taken into account of the condition of some of our houses,” he said.

Cllr Tim Collins (Ind) said some householders in an estate in Newmarket had no adequate insulation but still paid the same rent as those in brand new, energy-efficient homes.

Cllr Noel McCarthy (Lab) said lifting a cap on what OAPs paid saw some people facing a “totally unjust” increase from €26.50 to €47.

Cllr Noel O’Connor (FG) said he couldn’t understand why the council required a letter from Mabs to determine hardship.

“If we start sending people to Mabs they already have a waiting list of three to four weeks. It doesn’t help Mabs or the people concerned,” he said.