Kildare County Council is buying very few second hand homes
Kildare County Council is reluctant to buy second hand residential properties.
Instead the vast majority of new houses and apartments are being built to be provided as social housing.
KCC has approval from central government to buy certain types of homes up to the end of June next.
These homes are one bedroom units - to meet short supply in this type of property along with properties that allow people or families to remain where they currently live to prevent homelessness.
The council is also allowed to buy specific housing for individuals with a disability or “other particular priority needs.”
The council bought a total of 35 second hand properties last year and is “committed to delivering this acquisition programme to prevent homelessness and provide for priority groups.”
Two Fianna Fail councillors - Veralouise Behan and Brian Dooley said KCC has made enormous efforts on the housing front and targets are being met.”
“It’s great to see KCC is committed to preventing homelessness,” said Cllr Behan.
KCC official Annette Aspell commented that in some cases where houses were bought the people already living there remained.
However she also said that the council’s ability to buy homes in this way must meet narrow criteria.
She said that the building programme to provide social housing often through housing associations is the priority and these homes are being constructed on council-owned land.
“We’re confident that we will meet targets over the lifetime of the acquisition programme,” she said.