*Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) raised the matter. Photograph: Joe Buckley
OVER 60 households have contacted Clare County Council after being issued with notices to quit from their landlord.
Figures released by Clare County Council in the past week reveal that 61 households have contacted the local authority since receiving notices to quit (NTQs) from their landlord. An unspecified amount of this have occurred since the lifting of the eviction ban, the balance have dates ranging from the end of April to the end of September giving the Council a window of opportunity to work with tenants to source appropriate solutions before a risk of homelessness materialises.
Of the 61, 27 were in cases where the landlord intends to sell the property, 18 were needed for the landlords family and six were for tenancy breaches. The Council is checking the validity of 12 NTQs before completing further assessment.
Acting Senior executive officer in the Social Development (Housing) directorate of the Council, Pádraig MacCormaic explained, “Approximately 50% of these tenancies appear to be registered with Residential Tenancy Board per our latest listing . However since 4 April 2022, a landlord is obliged to register a tenancy every year on the anniversary of the date that tenancy began for so long as the tenancy exists and this should ensure a far greater number of tenancies are registered into the future. Where there are issues between the landlords and tenants in relation to breaches of tenancy the advice to both parties is that they need to engage with the Residential Tenancies Board for resolution”.
Within the past fortnight, a number of queries have been received by the Council from households who don’t qualify for Social Housing Support under current income policy. “Where all options have been explored and there remains a risk of homelessness we are not in a position to purchase the properties. However the Department have advised that a new scheme will be launched this week ‘Cost Rental Scheme for Tenants in Situ’, which is targeted at supporting a cohort of these clients,” he stated.
In each case, the Council’s homeless action team initially engages with the household to identify the risk of homelessness and whether there may be alternative accommodation available.
Where it may be deemed a possible option, the loans team are exploring whether clients may have potential to raise a mortgage to support the purchase of their own property, either the existing property or an alternative property.
In cases where there is a risk to homelessness which may not be avoidable through other options, the Council are exploring opportunities around purchasing the property with the tenant in situ. This involves working with AHBs, between them they are presently exploring the purchase of fourteen properties.
As a last resort, the Council will utilise emergency bed facilities where available and the Homeless Action Team will continue to work actively with the household until such time as their need is met. “We are confident that through exploring all of the above alternative options we will identify more sustainable solutions for tenants in difficulty,” MacCormaic added.
At the April sitting of the Council, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) asked how many persons had contacted the local authority due to ongoing eviction notices and the systems followed to support these people.
She told the meeting, “I commend Clare County Council for the work they are doing. Most of the figures I’m getting are what is registered with RTB, approximately 60% of them not registered. I commend them for work they are doing on this”.
Director of Services, Anne Haugh reminded councillors that they have been issued with details on the various options the Council have to pursue and assist individuals who have been serviced with notices to quit. “The local authority will be assisting any tenants who come into contact with us”.
