Landlords can see if rates paid
Wednesday March 10 2010
LANDLORDS with commercial properties are welcome to check with Wexford County Council to see if their tenants are paying rates. But the local authority feels no obligation to take the initiative and warn property owners when arrears are accumulating. The question was raised at Monday's meeting by Cllr. Malcolm Byrne.
Officials confirmed that, when a building becomes unoccupied, responsibility for the money due to the local authority automatically switches to the landlord. Cllr. Byrne said he knew of one case where a bill for ¤6,000 was presented to the owner after the occupants walked out. He felt it was unfair that a business could go belly up and then leave someone else with a bill they did not expect. However, council finance chief Ger Mulvey said the law on the point was clear.
On the other hand, he said his officials would be happy to provide information on the standing of tenants to landlords who applied.
