'Councils need powers to evict problem tenants'

THE Government must give local authorities more powers to evict so-called “neighbours from hell” after a case in Cork exposed serious deficiencies in the legislation.

The call came from Sinn Féin Cllr Jonathan O’Brien after it emerged Cork City Council was unable to secure a single court order eviction against “difficult tenants” last year.

A report presented to the council showed there were 36 new cases of antisocial behaviour reported across the city. The council called 239 tenants for interview about antisocial behaviour, and issued 23 warnings.

A total of 15 cases were closed or went to mediation, and there were six cases of home surrender. However, just four notices to quit were issued and not a single eviction was secured.

Mr O’Brien referred to a “live” case involving a family that he said has made life hell for neighbours in one area of the city.

The council spent some time building a strong case for eviction, including garda testimony. The case was to be heard in court this week.

He said the council was about to secure an eviction until the tenants changed legal teams last week.

The new legal representatives are expected to seek an adjournment of the case and seek access to all documentation relating to their clients. If the council doesn’t agree to adjourn, it could leave grounds for an appeal.

Mr O’Brien said the people at the centre of this case are manipulating the system and frustrating the council.

Fine Gael Cllr Pat Gosch cited a case involving a man who lived with his mother in the same house for over two decades who has had to leave his home because of a neighbour she described as “an anti-Christ”.

“We must have a system in place where people paying rent to us do not have to live in hell,” she said.

Mr O’Brien called for changes in the legislation to make it easier to evict problem tenants. “The lives of many people in this city are being made hell by a small number of individuals who persistently engage in serious antisocial behaviour.

“However, the reality is that under the present system, it is almost impossible to evict problem tenants.

“This is because the very neighbours whom they are terrorising can be required to testify in court…

“If we are serious about tackling antisocial behaviour, it must be made easier for the council to secure an eviction order against persistently disruptive tenants. I believe the testimony of a senior housing officer, backed up by written and verbal evidence, such as records of Garda call-outs, should be sufficient evidence to secure an eviction order.”