COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF HOUSING AND SOCIAL SPC

Thursday, September 23, 2010

HEADED ITEM NO. 4

HEADED ITEM: H. Department

Update on new leasing Initiative ASH (Applicant Sourced Housing)

REPLY:

In an effort to drive the leasing initiative in South Dublin, Department of the Environment Heritage & Local Government approval was received to operate the ASH (Applicant Sourced Homes) programme on a pilot basis. This represents an exciting new opportunity for housing applicants to source their own home which, subject to suitability of the property and agreement with the property owner, will be leased by the Council. The ASH programme has just commenced and is being rolled out to persons on the housing list on an incremental basis.

In order to deliver the schemes in a fair and equitable manner and to give housing applicants maximum opportunity it was decided to roll out the schemes in manageable tranches. To date 150 applicants on the housing list have been contacted with full information on both schemes and requested to submit a preference for either option.

An Information Booklet (pdf document) outlining the opportunity   for property owners for making properties available to a local authority under the initiative was published an advertised by the Housing & Sustainable Communities Agency. A follow up national newspaper advertisement was carried out in August 2010. The scheme is also outlined  on the Council’s website together with an outline FAQ. for landlords who may be interested in the scheme.

To date the Council has received expressions of interest from property owners across a range of property types throughout the county for in excess of 100 properties which are at various stages of assessment and inspection for suitability for inclusion in the scheme.

The Social Housing Leasing Initiative is in the early stages of development and implementation.