Assessment procedures for housing applicants, anti-social behaviour, and a homelessness action plan were among the features of the Housing Act 2009 discussed by councillors at Monday’s meeting of Westmeath County Council.
The details of the Housing Act 2009 were presented to councillors by senior executive officer Declan Leonard, who explained that the act is being introduced in response to new approaches to social housing due to changing economic circumstances.
Westmeath County Council currently has 1,200 houses in its stock, while Athlone Town Council has 500, meaning a total of 1,700 houses are provided directly by the local authorities. A further 3,000 houses have been sold to tenants in the past.
Among the new features of the act is a new assessment procedure for people who wish to be included on the housing list, whereby the HSE cannot approve anyone for rent allowance until a full assessment has taken place.
A new anti-social behaviour strategy is to apply to Rental Accommodation Scheme tenants and those on tenant purchase schemes, which councillors were adamant should be strictly enforced.
“It is very important to be very stringent with people who damage council property or housing. People who abuse the council’s generosity shouldn’t be continually accommodated,” said Cllr Aidan Davitt.
Meanwhile a homelessness action plan is to be adopted by the council with the aim of reducing and preventing homelessness.
Councillors also offered some suggestions to the council’s housing section, including the purchase of second-hand or incomplete houses.
“I don’t see many houses being constructed going forward. Can we look at acquiring second-hand houses for sale on the private market? There are many going very cheap, and this way we would have houses quicker in the housing stock,” suggested Cllr Mick Dollard.
Meanwhile Cllr Paddy Hill suggested that with so many half-built houses in the county, the council should consider looking for finance to purchase them.
