Cork local authority left house vacant for over six years
At 6.25 years, this is the longest period for which a council house was left vacant from among the homes allocated last year.
And the average time that these houses were vacant was 644 days — just short of two years.
The average cost to repair a vacant house in the city was €23,261 last year, but there are 359 more houses still boarded up.
The shocking revelation was branded a disgrace last night by Sinn Féin’s Cllr Thomas Gould.
The figures were provided to him in response to questions he tabled for answer at Monday’s council meeting.
The housing department has blamed the delays on a lack of funding from central government to carry out repairs.
Mr Gould describe the figures as shocking, especially at a time when there are 8,678 families and individuals presently on the city council’s housing waiting list.
He called on the council to fast-track repairs to vacant houses and to allocate them immediately to families in need of housing.
“This can only happen if the Government allocates funding to Cork City Council to carry out the necessary repairs, and only if the staff in maintenance and administration are provided to complete the work,” he said.
The Government has provided extra staff to Dublin County Councils but Cork has not received additional staff, he said.
“The city council’s housing department is in crisis because of shortages in funds, resources and staff, with only emergency repair work being carried out,” he said.
The city’s chief executive, Ann Doherty, did confirm that the housing department managed to turn around one vacant house in a day.
Mr Gould said this level of efficiency should apply to all the council’s housing allocations.
“If people are leaving council houses in a condition that allows for immediate occupancy, a system should be put in place that allows this to occur,” he said.
He suggested the introduction of incentives, such as rent rebates, to encourage people to return properties to the city council in good condition.
“This would allow the council to move families directly into houses before they become vacant and fall into disrepair or are vandalised.
“It would save the council and the tenants money and get the houses allocated straight away providing a home for hard-pressed families, while also eliminating areas for anti-social behaviour in communities,” Mr Gould said.
Tenants have been found for a council house which was vandalised after being left vacant following a €30,000 refurbishment.
The Irish Examiner highlighted the situation in the Cork suburb of Mahon last week. Neighbours said the house had been lying vacant for about three years, and had windows smashed and piping stolen, before contractors moved in last October to refurbish it.
But despite being ready for tenants, the house was left vacant for a further three months and was broken into again in late January.
Neighbours had to call the fire brigade when an alarm went off in the house.
When firefighters arrived, they found the house had been broken into, and that a copper cylinder which was part of the house’s heating system had been ripped out, causing some localised water damage.
Repairs have been completed and it is understood that tenants have been offered the house, and have accepted it.
Neighbours said they hope the new tenants will move in quickly.
