DELAYS CLOSING HOUSE DEALS ARE ‘UNACCEPTABLE’

A DELAY by solicitors appointed by Wexford County Council in closing house deals for homes sought by the local authority is a cause for concern, according to Cllr George Lawlor.

Cllr Lawlor said deposits were paid for houses as far back as May and the deals have yet to be sealed.

‘I know of one woman who has been given four different closing dates. It makes it virtually impossible for her to move into her house. We have claimed money from the department.’

Cllr Lawlor said the woman paid a €12,000 deposit on a specially adapted house she can’t move into as she hasn’t been paid for her house by the council.

‘ There are numerous examples of this which is causing a lot of hardship for people. It doesn’t appear to be of the council staff ’s making. It’s unacceptable that this should be happening, particularly at a time when we have serious difficulties in housing people. It’s unacceptable given the fact the house was paid for in full on November 1.

‘ There is another example of a deposit being paid last May. I am aware that legal difficulties can be an issue but it’s absolutely unacceptable that we should find ourselves in this scenario.’

Director of Services for Housing, Environment and Emergency Services John Carley said: ‘We are in constant contact with our solicitors. We have bought lots of houses this year. In some cases they come to fruition more quickly than in others. I am not sure of the exact reasons in these two cases.’

Cllr Lawlor replied: ‘If this was a plumber (things would be different). It’s a different attitude when it comes to the white collar side.

‘It’s unacceptable. I’m getting it in the neck from a member of the public when it has absolutely nothing to do with us. I was verbally attacked and quite rightly so as she had nowhere else to go and I’m a public representative. If it was isolated you could say it was an individual issue but it doesn’t appear to be isolated.’

Cllr John Fleming, who is an auctioneer, said the purchase of houses by the council takes longer than normal.

Cllr Fleming said a normal sale takes three months, but once the money has been paid over the house move can take place straight away.

‘Once the closing date is reached that should be that,’ he added.

Cllr Ger Carthy said he has also dealt with two similar cases, one stretching as far back as June, and asked if the council’s legal team have too big a workload.

Mr Carley said: ‘I accept some of the criticisms and I have been dealing with the solicitor to expedite this as quickly as possible.’

At this point Cllr Lawlor said: ‘Are our legal services contracted and are we out of contract?’

When concern was expressed that the body’s solicitors would be chosen from outside the county, CEO Tom Enright said a national bidding process is under way.

‘We will be given a national panel. We pick different solicitors for different types of services.’

Cllr Deirdre Wadding said the issue was not one which could be resolved in the chamber that day.

‘Can we have a report back on how widespread this?

Mr Carley said he would look into the matter.