Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 October 2018

Wednesday, 24 October 2018

Questions (328)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

328. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the person or body with responsibility for the maintenance of local authority owned properties within privately owned multi-unit developments in view of the growing reliance by local authorities on acquisitions as opposed to direct builds for housing supply; the options open to a tenant in cases in which both the management company and the local authority are unwilling to address ongoing serious maintenance issues in a property such as this; if local authorities are responsible in view of the fact that that the rent is being paid to the local authority; if guidelines will be issued to local authorities on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44232/18]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Local authorities are responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock, whether the stock was newly constructed for local authority ownership, or whether acquired as new or as previously-owned properties. This is as set out in Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.

Given that local authorities have always had an amount of housing stock dotted within multi-unit developments, there has always been a responsibility which they fulfill for the maintenance of such properties and, accordingly, I do not consider it necessary to issue new guidelines on the matter. If there is a specific case of repair or maintenance being required in a particular property, this should be pursued through the relevant local authority.   If the issues involved extend beyond the particular home into the wider development, it is a matter for the relevant local authority to follow up on the issue involved within the management company/managing agent arrangements.