Tory Councillor Eric Ollerenshaw was quoted in Inside Housing this week (14th September 2001) saying that Council tenants owe the Council £20.9 million in rent. He admits that "part" of the problem is how bad the Council are at paying housing benefit. Other reasons he doesn't consider are the lack of well paid jobs available to most people in Hackney, and the Council's useless housing management system that has let tenants get so far behind with their rents.

Councillor Ollerenshaw, of course, also fails to look at the other side of the story. Some tenants are behind with their rent, but what about all the outstanding repairs that the Council are legally obliged to carry out but continualy fail to do? It's a lot easier to point your finger at Council tenants than it is to face up to your own responsibilities