The Public Rental Board is faced with mounting arrears of $451,000 in April this year, an increase of $29,000 compared to $422,000 in December 2007.

In a press statement released, the Board's Manager Finance and Administration Ajay Kumar said the rental arrears are due to its low to medium income tenants who were first and hardest hit in these tough economic times like job losses, shorter working hours and rising inflation rates in the country.

Kumar said these low income residents are the most vulnerable group in any society considering their economic status adding it is highly unlikely that their salaries will increase.

He said even civil servants only got once percent back from the five percent pay cut.

However, Kumar adds the Rental Board is doing everything in their capacity to take care of these arrears.

He said the rentals from the existing flats range from $8 to $80 per week for one or two bedroom flats depending on the number of bedrooms, locality of the estates, infrastructure available and the improvements made to these new housing lots.