Housing allocation process questioned

Delays in handing out keys of council houses to new tenants were highlighted recently as two homes at Brideview Close in Tallow, understood to be allocated around Christmas, have yet to see keys handed over.

Cllr John Pratt raised the issue at a recent meeting of the Dungarvan Lismore District where he asked when the keys might be handed over to the new tenants.

“I do know that there is further work to be carried out after the final checks were carried out at those houses but the houses were issued and given out before Christmas,” Cllr Pratt said.

‘TECHNICAL ISSUE’

Following on from this, Cllr James Tobin also queried the allocation of houses, stating that he recently discovered that houses are allocated to new tenants before final inspections are carried out.

“It’s most annoying when the house is given out and the person doesn’t get the key for maybe two or three months,” Cllr Tobin said.

He also noted that councillors do not have the authority to allocate houses and that councillors can only make representations on behalf of constituents.

Waterford City and County Council Director of Housing Ivan Grimes, said that the handing over of the keys with regard to two houses in Brideview Close, Tallow, was delayed due to a ‘technical issue’ that must be resolved.

“I would prefer that we would delay the giving out of keys rather than having a tenant move in and find something defective. It’s much more difficult to rectify issues if there is a tenant in situ,” Mr Grimes said.