£383,931 of unpaid Executive rent

The figures released by the Housing Executive show that in the last three years, rents totalling 41 million have not been paid across Northern Ireland

The amount of unpaid rent is around 14 million for two of the last three years across Northern Ireland although this dropped slightly to just over 13 million last year (2009/10).

Outstanding rent in Coleraine was Coleraine 383,931.

North Belfast residents have clocked up the biggest unpaid rent bill at 1.5 million each year, although this is also the area with the highest concentration of Housing Executive properties.

DUP MLA Michelle McIlveen unearthed the fgures through an assembly question and said the fgures were "shocking".

"People will be stunned by the fact that across Northern Ireland there are around 14 million of Housing Executive rent arrears," she said.

"Obviously there are costs associated with collecting outstanding rent and it will be important to establish whether this is currently being done in the most efficient manner."