Aontú Derry councillor to seek extra help for homeowners

Aontú Councillor for Ballyarnett, Emmet Doyle will seek extra help for homeowners at the monthly meeting of full Council this Thursday.

He is proposing a change to the Support for Mortgage Interest scheme run by the Department for Communities.

Councillor Doyle said: “Homeowners have been hit by wave after wave of hardship in recent times like everyone else. Rising mortgage repayments on top of the rising food and energy costs have forced many homeowners into difficulty.

"The Department for Communities runs a loan scheme known as ‘Support for Mortgage Interest’ (SMI) which can help towards mortgage interest payments.

"Currently, the scheme is only accessible to those on certain benefits after 39 weeks or Universal Credit for 9 months.

"Aontù want to see that qualifying period reduced so that people are not struggling for months before this help is available, and I will ask Council to support that call."

Councillor Doyle concluded: "I will also be asking councillors to support asking Land and Property Services who collect local property rates to request that they consider the appropriateness of enforcement action (including court action) against ratepayers struggling to pay bills during this cost of living crisis.

"I am committed to doing everything I can to help people during this unprecedented time and I hope colleagues across the chamber and the senior civil servants now running our departments will be supportive to that end.”