Some notices to quit based on 'flimsy' and 'nefarious' reasons, says Waterford councillor
Councillor Joe O'Riordan made his comments at the March sitting of Dungarvan-Lismore District Council.
A Dungarvan councillor has said reasons for some rental terminations are “flimsy” and “nefarious”.
Cllr Joe O’Riordan was speaking in support of a concern raised by Cllr Kate O’Mahoney that notices to quit have surged at the March sitting of the Dungarvan-Lismore District Council.
Citing new rental rules and calling for the council to have more of a role in advising people facing homelessness, Cllr O’Riordan called the current situation “An absolute disgrace”.
“I had a person in an apartment in Dungarvan for 18 years. They’ve got two children and a baby. It’s a two-bedroom. They were served a 90-day termination notice after being in for 18 years. A 90-day termination on the basis of the apartment being over-occupied.
“The child sleeps with the parents, and the other two children have their own bedroom,” said Cllr O’Riordan.
Cllr O’Mahoney said that over the past few weeks, she has been “inundated” with requests for assistance.
She asked what emergency accommodation, if any, is available in Dungarvan.
“Those who are homeless or become homeless have to move their whole lives in really stressful circumstances to go to Waterford, potentially get emergency accommodation there or the Sands Hotel in Tramore, said Cllr O’Mahoney.
Speaking on behalf of the council’s housing section, Senior Architect Walter Holden said emergency accommodation was available in Dungarvan, but it is “dependent on need”.
He said regarding the case Cllr O’Riordan raised, Mr Holden said the council could not comment other than to say:
“We, as a local authority, have no control over that. The RTB, what I would say, is that they are very good to deal with. They have been extremely helpful to deal with.”
Cllr O’Riordan also asked what this year’s budget is for the Tenant in Situ Scheme.
The scheme allows the council to buy homes where a person has been issued with a notice to quit, in order to stop that person from falling into homelessness.
Mr Holden said that the budget for housing acquisitions across the county is €9 million, which includes the Tenant In Situ Scheme.
But he said, “There are a number of requirements which are … look, they are tricky to achieve. It's out there in the public domain, I’m not hiding anything.”
