Ominous Soundtrack Drowns Out Councillor's Message As Row Over Council Rent Hikes Rumbles On

A Bray councillor's TikTok about controversial new council rent scheme became a talking point for the wrong reasons, after the music he added overshadowed what he was saying.

Independent Bray councillor Joe Behan has found himself the subject of online mockery after a TikTok about Wicklow County Council's new rent scheme was paired with a dramatic soundtrack that, according to JOE.ie, drowned out his message.

The video, carries the caption "Bad news for many people in County Wicklow today".

It shows Cllr Behan speaking to camera from inside a car, while the music plays over him.

The comments section had a field day, and Cllr Behan replied to at least one commenter.

The clip has gone viral at a time when the issue it addresses is anything but a joke for thousands of council tenants.

Councillor Behan saw the funny side of things as he discussed with thejournal.ie. He suggested his fellow Wicklow representative Simon Harris might be a guiding light on how to use socials. 

“I don’t have the experience of the TikTok Tánaiste when it comes to these things.”

The video has racked up over a quarter of a million views. Speaking to The Journal, Behan saw the funny side of his newfound interest.

“Obviously some algorithm on TikTok produced this horror music. It must have been related to the first three words'' he said.

“There was a lot of merriment and people having a laugh, but if people waited, the music dies down after the first minute and the point I’m making is that a lot of people renting in Wicklow are going to be hit with additional charges.”

Despite the technical mishap, Behan said he still sees the advantages of social media when it comes to communicating with the public.

He also moved to release the video and message without the offending music as first released.

Courtesy: thejournal

WHAT THE RENT SCHEME IS

The measure at the centre of the row is the council's new Differential Rent Scheme.

It brings together the two rent schemes previously operated in Wicklow and calculates rent from a household's assessable income rather than the size of the property. Under the published scheme, rent is made up of a €30 base amount plus 20% of assessable income above €188, with a minimum rent of €30.

The new rents apply to all social housing tenants, as well as tenants on the Housing Assistance Payment scheme and the Rental Accommodation Scheme.

The council has defended the changes, pointing out that it is the first rent review since 2019.

TENANTS REACT TO THE NEW BILLS

The anger began when tenants received letters setting out their new rents. Hundreds of tenants contacted councillors, an online petition opposing the increases passed 1,170 signatures, and a protest was planned outside the council offices on 28 September, the day of an emergency meeting of the full council.

Sinn Féin councillors have said that by the council's own figures, 87% of tenants face a rent increase. Sinn Féin Councillor John Ward went further, saying some households are facing increases of more than 100%.

The Cathaoirleach, Social Democrats Councillor Caroline Winstanley, raised particular concerns about vulnerable tenants and criticised the fact that councillors have no vote or discretion in the rent-setting process.

START DATE PUSHED BACK

The scheme was due to start on 3 October, but the council has deferred the effective date to 7 November 2026. The decision was taken by Chief Executive Emer O'Gorman after a special meeting of the full council. The council has also said its housing team will hold drop-in clinics where tenants can ask about their new rent.

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COUNCILLORS SPLIT OVER HOW TO ACT

The political fight moved to the chamber on Monday 5 October. Sinn Féin councillors Warren O'Toole and John Ward had served a Section 140 motion, with the support of Independent Councillor Joe Behan. A Section 140 motion under the Local Government Act 2001 allows elected members to direct the council executive on certain matters.

According to Sinn Féin, that motion fell just one vote short. A separate, non-binding motion to delay the increases fared better. It was backed by 25 of Wicklow's 32 councillors.

Sinn Féin said council management argued the Section 140 motion was not legally sound, and Cllr O'Toole said the interpretation of Section 140 is before the courts and has yet to be decided. Critics of such motions have argued that Section 140 cannot be used to direct a council on policy in general terms.

Councillors in South Dublin recently used the same mechanism to compel their chief executive to suspend planned rent increases there.

Sinn Féin has called on management to act on the vote, warning that a postponement should not become an excuse to bring in the same increases later.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

The council has not yet said whether it will change the scheme before 7 November.

Tenants who are worried about their new figure can go to a drop-in clinic, and the council advises households to tell it about any change in income so their rent can be reassessed.