Hogan: Landlords responsible for household charge

Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan has said landlords are responsible for payment of the €100 household charge for any properties they own.

However, the Minister said it was up to landlords whether they wished to collect the money from their tenants, or pay it themselves.

"The owner of the property is responsible within the legislation to ensure the money is paid…What arrangements they enter into with tenants is their business," he said.

Earlier, the Irish Property Owners Association said landlords in the private rental sector could not afford the charge in addition to the second-home tax of €200.

The organisation has advised landlords to write to tenants outlining a monthly service charge of €25 (€300 per year) to cover the household charge and the second home tax.

Spokesperson for the housing agency Threshold senator Aideen Hayden called the IPOA's move "outrageous".