COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 13, 2009

QUESTION NO. 2

QUESTION: Councillor S. Crowe

To ask the Manager has there been any updated circular from the Government outlining a new sales strategy aimed at releasing affordable homes where local authorities are currently experiencing difficulties and with a view to reducing local authority waiting lists?

REPLY:

Circular AHS 1 2009 “Measures to deal with unsold Affordable Homes and related issues” was published in April 2009.  I have attached a copy of same for your reference.

South Dublin County Council is examining a number of possibilities to assist in the selling of existing Affordable housing. Property Path staff recently contacted all approved applicants to ensure their continued interest in the scheme, and to check if they wished to remain on the Affordable Housing List. This exercise resulted in a number of applications being closed due to approved applicants purchasing on the open market, or who no longer wished to be considered for Affordable Housing.  We commenced using a text messaging service to keep in contact with our Approved Affordable applicants to keep them update on what schemes were available and giving times of viewings. This text messaging service complements our dedicated website www.propertypath.ie. This has proven to be extremely cost effective and a large number of sales have resulted from this service.

There are some Affordable Housing Developments that the Council are no longer able to sell due to the Affordable price being the same or in a couple of instances, higher than the current market value. In these instances the Council has engaged in discussions with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, to look at the option of utilising some of the Affordable housing stock for the Rental Accommodation Scheme or for leasing to applicants on the Housing List. A final decision will be made shortly on this option.