Should Taxpayers Continue To Subsidise Well Paid Council Tenants?

ARE SOCIAL HOUSING TENANTS BEING PUNISHED FOR WORKING HARDER AND EARNING MORE?

Residents in Leitrim are up in arms over rent increases under a new council scheme, with some arguing that they’re being penalised simply for working hard and earning a better wage.

In this episode, Niall speaks to Councillor Gavin Pepper and a local Leitrim resident about the protests and the growing anger over how social housing rents are calculated.

The principle sounds fair enough. If you earn more, you pay more. But what happens when working extra hours, getting a pay rise or improving your circumstances means handing over more of your hard-earned money in rent? Are we creating a system that actually discourages people from getting ahead?

On the other hand, why shouldn’t social housing tenants who earn a decent income contribute more towards their homes, particularly when private renters are paying enormous rents with little or no support?

Is this a fair system based on people’s ability to pay, or another example of people being punished for working hard?

Niall asks whether councils have got the balance right, or whether these rent increases are simply going too far.

Have your say!