SF: Tax could force up rents on local authority houses

on 23/02/2013 10:18:19

People living in council-owned properties could be faced with rent hikes as a result of the Property Tax, according to a Sinn Féin Councillor.

Dublin City Councillor Micheal MacDonnacha said that the cost of the tax will be passed on to tenants in the form of higher rents.

Local Authorities and Councils are liable for the Property Tax on all properties they own, but Sinn Féin have said council officials at Dublin City Council have been told to increase their rent in order to recoup the cost of the tax.

Mr MacDonnacha said the proposals are unjust.

He said: "If you are a council tenant in an apartment or a house, you don't own that property, and yet you are made liable in terms of rent increases.

"Many, many people in local authority housing are on low incomes, some of the most low income and marginalised families, now they face increases in their rent."