COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

QUESTION NO. 3

QUESTION: Councillor M. Ward

"To ask the Chief Executive  to detail the total number of transfers made to those on the HAP transfer list since January 2015 broken down by area of choice, house size and length of time on list (housing list plus HAP transfer list) and further to detail the total number of applicants currently on the HAP transfer list broken down by area of choice, house size and length of time on list?"

REPLY:

Those on the HAP transfer list must be in receipt of HAP for two years to become eligible for a Transfer, and as South Dublin County Council did not commence HAP until Q1 2015, no HAP transfer have as yet been offered.

A detailed HAP transfer list will be populated in Q1 2017 in anticipation of future HAP Transfers.

It is important to note that once an applicant is in receipt of HAP their housing needs are considered to be met but they may apply for inclusion on the HAP Transfer List.

If you apply for a transfer within two weeks of  being approved for HAP, time spent on the housing list before entering HAP will be taken into account by the Council in considering transfers.

HAP recipients may also apply for a transfer at a later stage, however, previous time on the waiting list will not count where the application is after the initial two week period. This is explained to all HAP applicants.

All transfers are made in accordance with the Council's Scheme of Letting Priorities. Transfer applications are considered under the following circumstances:

1. overcrowding;
2. where older persons and other households wish to move to smaller accommodation (downsizing);
3. medical/compassionate reasons;
4. on grounds of anti-social behaviour where the Council’s Estate Management Liaison Officer and a Garda Superintendent support the transfer application;
5. other exceptional circumstances.
6. To facilitate incremental purchase, where the authority has consented to such a purchase.

 Notwithstanding the above, tenants seeking a transfer must fulfil the following requirements to the satisfaction of the housing authority: 

• hold the tenancy in their present dwelling, for a period of at least two years, unless it is a temporary tenancy;
• have a clear rent account – any transfer will take account of rent arrears but allowances may be made where an agreement is in place and being adhered to by the tenant to address any such arrears over an agreed period of time;
• have kept their dwelling in satisfactory condition, subject to inspection;
• have complied with the conditions of their Tenancy Agreement and
• have no record of anti-social behaviour.

 In addition the Refusals Policy will also apply to applicant for a transfer. Applicants, who without a satisfactory explanation, refuse two reasonable offers of accommodation within a twelve month period, will have their application suspended for one year. This period will not be considered for ‘time on list’ purposes.