‘No need to endure neighbours from hell’ as council makes tenants agree to code of conduct

Private homeowners in housing estates, where Cork County Council has acquired properties, should not have to endure any anti-social behaviour from local authority tenants.

The mayor of Cork county John Paul O’Shea said private homeowners should be made aware of the protocols the local authority have in place, to ward off unacceptable behaviour by its tenants.

The independent councillor has been backed by colleagues in County Hall.

The mayor said he was prompted to make the call after receiving complaints about some householders in parts of north Cork, but indicated similar problems existed in other parts of the county.

Mr O’Shea said the issue had to be addressed as, in recent months, the council was purchasing more and more former privately owned homes to tackle an increasing housing waiting list.

While there was a programme in place to build local authority housing, he said it could take a couple of years before new homes came on stream in any meaningful way.

In the meantime, the county council is trying to purchase private houses in estates, primarily to house families on the waiting list which currently has more than 7,000 applicants.

Mr O’Shea said he had “come across issues” and received a number of complaints from private homeowners alleging some council-housed families had been causing problems.

He said council tenants have to sign a tenancy agreement with the council that they will abide by a specific code of conduct.

“Among the rules are they’re not allowed to engage in anti-social behaviour, can’t keep certain types of animals on the property, and are not allowed to have people living in the building other than those recognised as tenants,” he said.

The mayor said private house owners have the right to know about the terms of such tenancy agreements and to know they have the right to complain to the local authority if they have to put up with the proverbial ‘neighbours from hell’.

“People can report anti-social behaviour to the council’s estate management liaison officer.

“However, we only have one liaison officer per municipal district. We should have more because they have a number of other jobs to do as well. They’re overstretched,” Mr O’Shea said.

“Where a house is being purchased in a private estate by the council, council officials should hold a meeting with adjoining householders before the new tenant is allocated and inform them of their rights.”

He pointed out, however, council officials are not allowed to inform neighbouring homeowners of the identity of the tenant in advance of them taking occupancy.

However, Sinn Féin councillor Melissa Mullane said she was aware of a case where neighbours knew the identity of a family moving into a house purchased by the council and was concerned about how that happened.

“If the council purchase houses in certain areas there’s uproar,” Independent councillor Tim Collins claimed. “Fear is out there and gathering momentum about the council buying houses [in private estates].”