COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, April 14, 2025
QUESTION NO. 11
QUESTION: Councillor R. Mannion
To ask the Chief Executive how many complaints were received in relation to anti-social behaviour in council-owned properties, and subsequently how many tenancies were terminated/tenants were evicted in the past 3 years?
REPLY:
The council's Anti- Social Strategy applies to local authority tenants. Anti-social behaviour is defined in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 as the following:
(a) The manufacture, production, preparation, importation, exportation, sale, supply, possession for the purposes of sale or supply, or distribution of a controlled drug (within the meaning of the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 to 2007).
(b) Any behaviour which causes or is likely to cause any significant or persistent danger, injury, damage, alarm, loss or fear to any person living, working or otherwise lawfully in or in the vicinity of a house provided by a housing authority under the Housing Acts 1966 to 2014 or Part V (as amended) of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
Complaints received are categorised below and are based on the nature and severity of the complaint:
Category A
This includes the manufacture, production, preparation, importation, exportation, sale, supply, possession for the purposes of sale or supply or distribution of a controlled substance (within the meaning of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977 and 2007)
Category B
Any behaviour which causes or is likely to cause any significant or persistent danger, injury, damage, loss or fear to any person living, working or otherwise lawfully in the vicinity of a house provided by a housing authority or a housing estate in which a house is situated without prejudice to the foregoing includes violence, threats, intimidation, coercion, harassment, racism or serious obstruction of a person.
Category C
Breaches of terms of a tenancy agreement which do not fall within the above categories. These breaches include but are not limited to the following:
- Running a business, physical condition of property and/or garden, caravan in gardens, feuding, un-authorised occupiers – including sub-letting of property, abandoned properties, joyriding and pet or animal nuisance.
Complaints received during the period 2022 to 2024
|
Year |
Category A |
Category B |
Category C |
Total |
|
2022 |
245 |
399 |
83 |
727 |
|
2023 |
164 |
373 |
77 |
614 |
|
2024 |
222 |
343 |
88 |
653 |
During the period 2022 to 2024, 1994 complaints were received in total, with 38 tenancies terminated following notices served on properties. An important role of the anti-social/community safety team is tenancy sustainment. Where breaches of tenancy occur, surrenders are often obtained following extensive investigation and consultation with the tenants and various agencies without the the need to apply to the courts for 'Possession Order'.
The council did not obtain any 'Possession Orders' during the three-year period 2022 to 2024 for anti-social behaviour. However, seven applications for 'Possession Orders' are currently with our Law Department and are expected to appear before the Courts in 2025.
A new Anti- Social/Community Safety Strategy will be considered by the Housing Strategic Policy Committee in May and for adoption by the elected members in June'25.