Sinn Féin TDs for Wicklow and Wicklow-Wexford, John Brady and Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin, alongside Councillors Warren O’Toole and John Ward, have called on Wicklow County Council to stop the introduction of its revised differential rent scheme, due to take effect on 7 November.
They have warned that the proposed changes, which will see 87 per cent of council tenants face rent increases, are fundamentally unfair, will place further financial pressure on households already struggling with the cost of living, and criticised the Council for failing to honour its commitment to engage with tenants ahead of the scheme’s implementation.
Sinn Féin had consistently opposed the increases since they were first proposed, but the serious concerns raised have still not been addressed by the Council, despite management commitments to hold engagement workshops with tenants.
Teachta Brady said:
“Sinn Féin has consistently called for these fundamentally unfair rent hikes to be scrapped.
“From 7 November, 87 per cent of Wicklow County Council tenants are facing rent increases.
“We have seen cases where rents are set to rise by 100 per cent, 200 per cent and, in some cases, as much as 300 per cent.
“These are tenants who are often living in overcrowded, damp and mould-affected accommodation, yet they are now being asked to pay significantly more for homes that are simply not fit for purpose.
“This is completely unacceptable.
“What is also unacceptable and makes matters worse is that Council management gave firm commitments that a series of workshops would be held to engage with tenants and explain how the proposed changes were calculated.
“That engagement has simply failed to materialise, leaving many tenants without the information or support they need to understand the impact these changes will have on their household finances.
“The Council's response to phone and email queries has also been completely unsatisfactory, leaving many tenants in the dark.
“This approach has layered stress upon stress for many households.
“There are fundamental flaws in this scheme, yet the Council has refused to listen to the concerns and feedback of tenants.
“To give just one example, the income disregard under the new scheme remains at the same level as it was in 2016, with absolutely no recognition of the impact of inflation over the intervening years.
“This glaring unfairness has still not been addressed.
“At any time, these increases would be fundamentally unfair, but in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, when households are already struggling to make ends meet, they are simply beyond what many families can afford.
“Tenants are being forced into an impossible position.
“Do they put food on the table, care for sick family members, keep up with their utility bills or pay substantially higher rent? No family should be forced to make those kinds of choices just to keep a roof over their heads.
“I have written to the Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council demanding that these rent hikes are stopped, that the revised scheme be scrapped and that we work towards a fair system that protects tenants rather than pushing more households into hardship.”
Councillor Warren O’Toole said:
“Tenants are genuinely frightened about what these increases will mean for their families.
“People are already struggling with rising food, energy and household bills, and these increases will only make an extremely difficult situation worse.
“These tenants have been placed in a situation through no fault of their own. The failure of successive governments to introduce a fair and consistent national differential rent scheme has left local authorities and their tenants dealing with the consequences.
“The ongoing industrial action and work-to-rule measures have also impacted the delivery of the planned information clinics, leaving tenants without the opportunity to sit down with council staff, discuss their individual circumstances and get the clarity they desperately need.
“I have been engaging directly with Wicklow County Council on these issues and will continue to do so. My priority is to ensure that tenants are treated fairly, that their concerns are heard and that no family is left facing unnecessary financial hardship.”
Councillor John Ward said:
“The level of worry and anxiety among council tenants is very real, and the calls and messages we are receiving reflect just how much uncertainty this scheme has created.
“We are hearing from people who simply do not know how they will manage these increases on already stretched household incomes.
“Tenants deserve proper engagement and a fair rent system that recognises the financial pressures they face.
“It is deeply disappointing that the promised workshops have not taken place, and the Council cannot expect tenants to accept significant increases when it has failed to properly explain or address the concerns surrounding them.”
ENDS