COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 12, 2012

QUESTION NO. 9

QUESTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

To ask the Manager the number of notices to quit served in relation to rent arrears from South County Dublin social housing in 2009, 2010 and 2011; the levels of arrears in these instances, the numbers of these notices to quit that have led to summons; the number of evictions that resulted; and for those households evicted what tracking is done and is it known if any of those households became homeless?

REPLY:

The total number of Notices To Quit served for non payment of rent to the council in 2009, 2010 and 2011 is set out below. The Council serves a Notice To Quit for arrears of rent only as a last resort and where the tenant is not making a genuince effort to deal with outstanding arrears.

We encourage tenants who are experiencing financial difficulties to contact the Money and Advice Budgeting Service (MABS), which is a free service. In addition the Council operates a Housing Welfare Service where tenants of the Council can deal in confidence with problems they are experiencing. Tenants experiencing difficulties in paying their rent are encouraged to contact  the Rents Section where their issues will be dealt with sympathetically. The rent charged per week by the Council is only 10% of the total net household income.

2009 – 87 NTQs – with total arrears of €420,148.22 which led to 50 Warrants for Possession being granted by the District Court, which, in turn, led to 5 evictions.

2010 – 88 NTQs – with total arrears of €398,481.93 which led to 40 Warrants for Possession being granted by the District Court which, in turn, led to 3 evictions.

2011 - 114 NTQs- total arrears figure not available                        49 Warrants for Possession were granted by the Dictrict Court which led to 12 evictions.

Any person evicted from their home by the Council  due to the non payment of their rent, is made aware of the service operated by the Homeless Services Unit and is advised to make contact with the Unit. The Council does not track those individuals who have been evicted.They are ineligible for consideration for council housing in South Dublin for 2 years and for rent supplement for 6 months. This effectively means that they must avail of hostel accommodation for at least 6 months unless they can source alternative accommodation through their own efforts or through family or friendAfter 6 months in hostel accommodation they will be assessed by our Homeless Services Unit and, if they have a need for social housing support, they will be qualified for Rent Supplement .

If they come back to council accommodation they must address the arrears they left in their former council accommodation.