Concerns raised in Waterford over hundreds of properties leased by council
Cllr Donal Barry spoke on the subject at the July plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council
Concerns have been raised in Waterford over the number of properties being leased by the council.
Independent councillor Donal Barry spoke on the subject at the July plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council.
Cllr Barry said: “According to a recently published Sunday Independent local authority league table for leased social housing, Waterford has one of the highest levels in the country relative to its population with over 700 leased.
“Can the council explain why its reliance on leased accommodation is significantly higher than comparable local authorities such as Wexford, Kilkenny, Cork or Galway?
“Does the council accept that this level of dependency on leasing points to an insufficient delivery of permanent council owned social homes over the same period?”
He went on to criticise the council’s approach, arguing that it will only create more problems.
“How can the executive justify a policy that removes so many homes from the private market at a time when Waterford is trying to attract workers, families and investment?
“Does it intend to continue this approach? We are solving one government created problem and helping create another.
“I accept leasing has a role to play in housing delivery, but at the end of those leases, the tenants will have to be housed elsewhere after millions of taxpayers money is spent on the leases.”
In response, Director of Services Seamus De Faoite explained why the council has a higher number of leased properties.
Mr De Faoite said: “In relation to Cllr Barry’s question, just around the leased accommodation, Waterford was probably the leader in the country in relation to the Repair and Lease Scheme.
“The amount of unused properties that were brought back into use and families are now using those properties so that is why we’re leaders in the field in relation to that.
“Where does that leave us going forward? I suppose we are looking at the moment at the years those leases are going to finish and we are planning accordingly.”
He concluded by saying that such plans would be made in the context of the new Housing Action Plan.