Viral video raises questions re council's tenancy management

Inspections at tenanted houses under council stock have been queried as in west Waterford, Cllr Mairead Tobin again highlighted a house in a local estate which she claims is not being maintained.

“We’re giving houses to people but they don’t have the courtesy or the manners to maintain them when there are people who are crying out to be housed or who might be grateful to have it,” Cllr Tobin said.

Pointing to another situation, she outlined that two single individuals were recently rehoused in properties associated with Waterford City and County Council, however, their previous properties were left in bad repair.

“The properties that they left were private properties where both landlords are now having to do huge works to bring them back. One gentleman in particular is at least ten days trying to clear rubbish out of the property that the tenant has vacated and that person has gone into a property that is associated with the council, so when the time comes and they may vacate that, the council will be left with that substantial bill to clear it out," Cllr Tobin claimed.

“The second person who has gone into one of those units, the landlord is also facing a huge job. The person had stopped putting out his refuse and had decided to store it in his property”.

Cllr Tobin called for the council to investigate properties and follow up on council stock, to ensure that houses are being maintained by tenants.

The issue was raised following a viral video of a property in Dungarvan which had been left in terrible condition after the tenant vacated; Cllr John Pratt accused the council of not inspecting properties. He noted the costs involved and claimed that costs to repair and turnover council stock would outweigh that of carrying out inspections.

At a recent meeting of the Dungarvan Lismore District, the issue was raised by Cllr Damien Geoghegan who said that after seeing the video, he went through the tenancy agreement, which is issued to all prospective council tenants, alleging that Waterford City and County Council’s tenancy management ‘failed’ in this case.

“Number 35 in the tenancy agreement that we ask people to sign up to states that City and County Council should carry out periodic inspections of the dwelling and garden yard area to ensure that the terms of this tenancy agreement are being complied with.

“I think it's unacceptable for that to happen," Mr Geoghegan stated in relation to the damage to the property. "It’s a time when people are crying out for houses. That was the reaction that I got from people, that it was shocking that somebody, first of all, allowed the house to get into that situation. The supports are there for people who are finding it difficult. We have to accept that as well. From our own point of view, our inspection regime has absolutely failed us in this regard,” Cllr Geoghegan said.

Responding, director of housing, Ivan Grimes, outlined that the property in the video was cleared out three to four weeks ago.

Mr Grimes stated that the council has over 6,000 properties and said that it would be impractical to carry out investigations, as he noted that there is a team of just four individuals in tenancy management.

“Where we receive complaints we do follow up on them. Issues like Cllr Tobin raised there in relation to people storing waste in their house, that’s a breach of waste management legislation. If people are aware of that and made complaints, environment and housing will investigate and will follow up on it,” Mr Grimes said.

AWARENESS

The council relies on individuals making complaints, stating that they ‘cannot assume what happens behind closed doors’, according to Mr Grimes.

“Just because we say we’re going to carry out periodic inspections, doesn’t necessarily mean the tenant is going to engage with us, because there are quite a number of tenants, somewhere between 500 and 1,000 who have never made contact with the council in relation to maintenance issues over the years, they’ve never paid a rent by and large, but they have never made contact or received or allowed any maintenance services into the house. That’s their prerogative,” Mr Grimes added.

Concluding, he said that the key to carrying out inspections and following up on such issues, is awareness.

“The case in question was very, very difficult. I’m not commenting on it any further than that. The key issue here is we need to be made aware. We cannot make assumptions on what lies behind closed doors. If there are issues, a complaint will be followed up on,” he said.