Wrecked council homes cost taxpayers €3.5m

TAXPAYERS have been forced to spend up to €3.5 million to repair council homes destroyed by evicted tenants in the past five years.

Figures obtained by the Irish Examiner show 133 homes have been left unliveable because of the damage caused by people evicted under antisocial behaviour orders.

Under the specific antisocial eviction criteria outlined in the 1997 Housing Act, a tenant can be told to leave their home for consistent aggressive behaviour against neighbours, making threats, and drug use, among other issues.