Social and Affordable Housing

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 June 2012

Thursday, 28 June 2012

Questions (170, 171)

Sandra McLellan

Question:

173 Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the person whose responsibility it is to maintain a repossessed shared ownership house in the possession of a local authority; if it is acceptable that one year after it was repossessed that it has been let fall into such disrepair that it has now become a health hazard infested by rats, is overgrown with six foot long grass and the fence is falling into the neighbours property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31417/12]

Sandra McLellan

Question:

174 Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the procedures in place to ensure that houses repossessed under shared ownership are properly maintained while unoccupied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31418/12]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 174 together.

Repossession remains extremely rare for local authority borrowers, with only 128 repossessions across all local authority areas carried out between 2005 and 2010. Clearly, where repossession does occur it is only as a last resort, and my Department is aware that it generally involves those households in arrears who refuse to engage with the local authority lender.

It is a matter for local authorities to ensure that properties that are repossessed are secured or maintained after repossession. My Department has no function in the matter. However, it is generally the case that a local authority will look to sell a repossessed property on the open market as quickly as possible in order to minimize their own exposure to financial loss in respect of the loan finance provided through them to the borrower.