€24,000 ruling against tenant over arrears

A tenant, who owes his landlord more than €24,000 in rent, blocked entry through the front door of his apartment at Harcourt Green, Charlemont Street, Dublin, a judge heard yesterday. Landlord Peter O'Shea told Judge Jacqueline Linnane in the Circuit Civil Court that when he called at the weekend to speak to his tenant, Joseph McLaughlin, he could not gain entrance.

Barrister Una Cassidy, counsel for the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), told the court the apartment had been rented to Mr McLaughlin on an annual renewal basis providing the property could be inspected from time to time. Judge Linnane made an order against Mr McLaughlin enforcing a determination of the PRTB for rent arrears and for possession of 100 Harcourt Green. She also granted judgment against him for rent arrears of €24,356 and legal costs.

In a second application for enforcement of a PRTB determination Ms Cassidy told the court that rent arrears had reached €36,779.

She said the PRTB had brought the application on behalf of landlord Veronica Campbell, Brackenstown House, Swords, in respect of outstanding rent for a house on Clontarf Road, Dublin 3.

Ms Cassidy said the tenant, Ms Patricia Ronayne, who had rented at €1,600 a month, had left the house in December .

Judge Linnane made an order enforcing the PRTB’s determination and judgment in favour of Ms Campbell against Ms Ronayne for €36,779 and costs.