COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, September 14, 2026
QUESTION NO. 9
QUESTION: Councillor P. Holohan
To ask the Chief Executive what the current average waiting time is for households on the housing transfer list?
REPLY:
Existing council and approved housing body tenants may apply for consideration for a transfer to alternative accommodation. An application will only be accepted on the basis of the below criteria:-
- Exceptional medical/compassionate grounds (regard to be had for report from our medical advisors/housing welfare officers as appropriate)
- Older Persons (aged 55 or over) rightsizing accommodation
- Tenants rightsizing to the specific home size of accommodation that matches their need and to make better use of our housings stock
- Overcrowding
- To facilitate incremental purchase, where the authority has consented to such a purchase.
In addition to the above criteria, tenants seeking a transfer must fulfil the following requirements:
- hold the tenancy in their present dwelling, for a period of at least two years
- 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
- have kept their dwelling in satisfactory condition, subject to inspection
- have complied with the conditions of their tenancy agreement
- have no record of anti-social behaviour
Existing tenants must complete the Transfer application form and submit with the necessary support documents. Transfers are facilitated in accordance with our Allocation Scheme and subject to the availability of suitable properties.
As of 31 August 2026, a total of 45 offers of suitable accommodation had been made to eligible applicants on the housing transfer list. Of these, 32 offers were refused by applicants, while 13 households successfully transferred to alternative accommodation. In addition, 5 households were transferred from the Medical Housing List to accommodation that meets their assessed medical needs. A further 2 households were transferred through a Mutual Transfer.
The table below details the average time on the transfer waiting list categorised by area of preference and housing need::
|
Housing need
|
Average time (in years)
|
|
1 bed
|
5.8
|
|
2 bed
|
5.6
|
|
3 bed
|
7.7
|
|
4 bed
|
13.8
|