COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (1)

Monday, March 15, 2010

QUESTION NO. 1

QUESTION: Councillor M. Corr

"To ask the Manager to give a detailed up to date report outlining the number of vacant houses in the Tallaght area, the length of time that they have been vacant and to indicate what strategies he has put in place to ensure the quick and efficient turn around of vacant houses?"

REPLY:

There were 94 housing units vacant in the Tallaght Area at the end of February 2010.  45 of these  units only became vacant in the last 4 months and 20 of them have become vacant since the beginning of 2010.   weeks.  A full list of the vacant dwellings at the end of Feburary,  showing the dates the units became vacant, is available.  Of the 94 vacant units, 12 are ready for allocation and 7 of these have tenants sourced.  There is also a further 16 tenants sourced for units that are not ready.  Of the vacant units 24 will be upgraded under the energy programme, which means these units will take longer to turnaround. 

When a unit becomes vacant the sourcing of a new tenant commences. Depending on the condition of the vacant unit, the security of the area, available maintenance staff, relet works can commence immediately.  Work is prioritised in units where tenants have been sourced.  Another factor in the turnaround of housing units is vandalism, which requently occurs in vacant units.  However it can take some time before a unit is accepted and it is often  necessary to leave some works until,  or close to,  the time of  allocation for security reasons. The Council have to, in some cases, put in a securityman  to protect the property prior to allocation.   It should be noted that there were 16 refusals of casual vacancies in theTallaght Area and also 5 refusals for new builds this year to date .