Renting Scam in Narrabri

Narrabri Shire Council, in north-west New South Wales, is investigating how a Narrabri resident came to pay $10,000 rent over five years to a person claiming to own an airport hangar that belonged to Council.

The resident has produced a copy of a rental contract, he believed, was with the legal owner.

But the payments were not made to Narrabri Shire Council on behalf of ratepayers, but to a third party who represented himself as the owner of the hangar.

The resident, who paid the money in good faith, was renting the hangar at Narrabri Airport to store his light plane. ...

In July, Council conducted an asset audit, after discovering it had not received rental income for the hangar's use for four years.

Narrabri councillor John Clements, says Council is seeking immediate legal advice on the issue.

"Exactly what led to this person drawing up a contract, and granting a right for somebody else to occupy our premises, that's what we're working on trying to ascertain," he said.

"The fact that an individual has let a contract to another individual, claiming to own a facility that he does not own, is entirely repugnant."

Councillor Clements says Council is awaiting a report on the matter, and hopes to publicly table any information that is not commercial-in-confidence, as soon as possible.[/COLOR]