Housing Executive rent rise attacked

January 15, 2004

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing matters Fra McCann MLA has said that the 3% hike in Housing Executive rents will hit those people on low salaries most.

Mr McCann said:

" The announcement by the NIHE that they are to raise their rents by 3% will hit those tenants who are low wage earners and therefore unable to access benefit most. If banks raised their mortgage rates by 3% in one swoop there would be an outcry from home owners.

" Yet the Housing Executive believe that it is appropriate to raise yearly rents by around £70 and then offer the lame excuse that the rents here are still less than England.

" This rent hike cannot be justified and is certainly not matched by any rise in service which tenants receive from the Executive." ENDS