McDermott hits back as Donegal County Council seek rent increase from mica tenants

An Inishowen councillor has criticised the local authority for carrying out rent reviews and seeking increased rent from social housing tenants living in mica-affected homes.

Cllr Martin McDermott raised the issue of rent reviews in affected homes during a housing meeting with council officials at Lifford.

Mentioning St Patrick's Park in Carndonagh and Ard na Gulla Duibhe in Moville while acknowledging other estates were also in the frame, the Glengad-based representative said Donegal County Council has contacted families living in homes with defective concrete blocks as part of a rent review process.

READ NEXT: Carndonagh's Spraoi agus Spórt tops at All-Ireland Community & Council Awards

“I ask the senior management team to ensure that we [Donegal County Council] do not carry out rent reviews for people living in those estates with serious problems with defective concrete blocks until they are remediated,” the Fianna Fáil councillor said.

“It's unfair to ask people living in houses that are not fit for purpose to do a rent review and to pay more rent. The Council has reviewed these houses and we all know exactly the estates we are talking about. We shouldn't be asking people living in those houses to pay more rent until we get those houses fixed.”