Galway Council tenants face massive rent rise – backdated

Families living in Council houses across Galway are facing financial headaches before the Christmas – after the local authority issues bills for up to €2,000 in backdated rent.

Even more shockingly the bill follows a rent review – and householders have seen that increase backdated to January 1.

It means that hundreds of tenants – many of them pensioners – are facing a four figure bill for outstanding rent, along with an increase that has seen their bill triple into the future.

The matter provoked widespread anger at this week’s meeting of Loughrea area councillors, which heard that notices have already gone out to some of the 750 householders affected in that area alone.

One 86-year-old pensioner in Portumna had her rent increased from the minimum €25 to the maximum €86, exclaimed Cllr Michael ‘Mogie’ Maher.

He has received calls from up to 40 tenants complaining of debit notices ranging from €252 to €2,100.

“I’ve had people crying into the house.  To send out a bill just before Christmas of over €2,000 is absolutely scandalous,” he said. “What we’re doing here is totally illegal. You can’t backdate reviews.”

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.