Councillor says problem tenants should not get back on housing list
A problem tenant removed from a Mayo County Council property can be placed back in social housing if they show themselves to be homeless.
Cllr Peter Flynn raised the issue at a meeting of the council’s Housing Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) meeting last week.
The Westport-based Fine Gael councillor queried what happens if someone refuses to pay their rent, engages in anti-social behaviour or is found to have a serious criminal conviction.
“In effect, they make themselves voluntarily homeless. Going back to the Town Council days, we never obligated to re-house those people. It was their problem,” said Cllr Flynn. “They should not be, in my view, considered for future housing and should not be considered as a homeless individual,” he added.
Cllr Flynn was informed that anyone who presents as homeless to the council is entitled to be assessed, and each presentation is taken on a "case by case" basis. He said he fears there is now a "revolving door system".
The meeting was told that some people can find themselves back in the social housing system while others can be suspended from any supports for a year or five years depending on their offending.
“The vast majority of people who are in council-delivered homes are responsible tenants, but there is a tiny cohort who are causing so much trouble. If they are continuing to be facilitated through our system then there is something seriously wrong,” said Cllr Flynn.
He said it should be the case that if people are "out they are out".
Cllr Michael Kilcoyne said he is aware of people with serious convictions who have been returned to the housing list.
“I am aware of at least one example where someone was housed and the neighbours were not aware that he had a conviction for abuse of children,” he stated. “You can ban someone from the housing list for five years but if they are homeless you have to give them accommodation. That’s how I understand it,” he added.
- Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
