Council to write to AHBs over vacant properties in Kildare-Newbridge MD

Kildare County Council is to write to the AHBs (Approved Housing Bodies) operating within Kildare-Newbridge MD for information on vacant properties in the district.

The move is on foot of a motion tabled by Cllr Chris Pender (SD) at the July meeting of Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District, held on Wednesday, July 16 2025.

Cllr Pender's motion asked: “That the council writes to all Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) operating within the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District requesting information on the number of vacant properties they currently hold in the district, the length of time each property has been vacant, the reasons for the vacancies, and a copy or summary of their current voids and vacancy policy.”

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Speaking at the MD meeting, Cllr Pender said he put forward his motion because he was looking for a “full picture” of vacant social housing in the district.

He said councillors are provided with information on Kildare County Council's own vacant properties, of which there are 49 units in the MD currently.

However, he said, people would often come to him and say there is a vacant council house at a particular location, and “more often than not” it's either privately owned or with an AHB.

He recognised that the council's vacancy rate stood at about 2%, but said “I know we can do better.”

There was a need, however he said, to also ensure that AHBs are “doing their jobs”, because many of the people located in AHB properties are allocated through the council's social housing list.

He said that while the council had suggested writing to only the larger AHBs, he would argue that the council write to the larger AHBs “first”, and then the smaller AHBs following that.

Cllr Suzanne Doyle (FF) suggested an amendment to the motion, which would request a monthly status update from the AHBs.

Cllr Pender said he was happy to accept this amendment, but reiterated that the letter should be to all AHBs.

He said he put his motion forward in July to give the AHBs sufficient time to gather statistics, with the MD not sitting in the month of August.

Also supporting the motion, Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer (FG) said that it would be useful to know how many properties the AHBs are turning around, and how many properties are vacant in the district.

Following discussion, it was agreed to write to the AHBs with Cllr Pender's (amended) request for a monthly update on vacant properties in the district.