The Municipality of Olhão is going to lower the interest on arrears on rents paid by beneficiaries of social housing in the municipality from 15 to 5,5 percent and forgave the debt already overdue. From now on, warned the municipality, "those who benefit from this benefit must comply with the rules."
"After the Chamber had declared the forfeiture of the value of the overdue debt (approximately 150 euros), thus failing to collect it, it also decided that the non-overdue debt would have lower interest rates for all and not just for the new contracts. Thus, those who do not pay the monthly rent by the stipulated date will see the value of interest increase by only 5,5% instead of the previous 15%», explained the municipality of Olho, in a press release.
The measure was approved at the Chamber Meeting this Tuesday and intends to give defaulters a second chance, which will also be, the autarchy suggests, the last, since a more rigorous control will be imposed.
«The social justice that is intended to be imprinted with this measure foresees that rents are paid according to income and the respective household. In this sense, the municipality will endeavor to dialogue with tenants who have debts, so that they can pay according to their possibilities," added the Chamber of Olhão.
The municipality recalled that "a part of the long-term debt of the Municipality of Olhão (about 6 million euros) is related to the construction of social housing in the municipality, there are currently 720 social housing units."
«So that there is ever greater rigor, the municipality is, at this moment, making efforts to hold the citizens who enjoy this benefit that is owned by the Municipality and a cost for all Olhão citizens accountable», concluded the Chamber of Olhão.
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