‘Properties need to be inspected’

SOCIAL HOUSING properties in the district are being left in appalling condition, Cllr Malcolm Byrne said at the Gorey Municipal District meeting last week.

‘Tenants who leave houses in such a state should be denied social housing by the council,’ said Cllr Byrne. ‘We need to start inspecting homes more because the refurbishment cost is something we can’t afford to keep doing.’

Some fellow members disagreed with him because people would, it was claimed, then become homeless and have nowhere to go.

Housing officer Padraig O’Gorman proposed that Wexford County Council carry out target inspections on five per cent of properties throughout the year. ‘We know we have to improve on this situation,’ added Mr O’Gorman.

Cllr Byrne first put forward the motion that Wexford County Council commit to inspecting properties once or twice a year, that tenants should be denied social housing if previous property was left in a poor state and also that some scheme be devised, such as that the tenant pay a deposit or bond on entering a tenancy.

‘We could amend the motion to propose we do a target inspection of five per cent of properties in the year,’ added Mr O’Gorman.

Cllr Byrne agreed, but as ‘long as the council could commit’ to inspecting the properties throughout the year.

‘We also need to amend the third part about the deposit,’ said Cllr Fionntáin Ó Súilleabháin. ‘If they are on the housing list they won’t be able to afford a deposit.’

Chairman Cllr Joe Sullivan suggested the council implement a policy that would see a tenant will face repercussions if a property were left in a poor state.

After some debate, the councillors agreed and passed the motion calling for targeted inspections of social houses, and for Wexford County Council to pursue costs of repair in a robust manner from those who leave properties in appalling conditions.