Middle-income earners 'snookered' by housing system say Tipperary councillors
Concerns raised over affordable housing and social housing allocations
The challenges facing people trying to secure a home in North Tipperary were brought sharply into focus at the July meeting of Nenagh Municipal District, where councillors voiced concerns over social housing allocations, affordable housing and the growing number of people they say are being left behind by the current system.
Much of the discussion centred on those who earn too much to qualify for social housing but cannot afford to purchase a home, with councillors warning that a growing cohort of working people are falling through the cracks. Cllr Joe Hannigan questioned whether more homes secured under Part V planning agreements could instead be designated as affordable housing in towns where significant levels of social housing had already been delivered. Part V of the Planning and Development Act requires private housing developers to reserve up to 20% of residential land or units for social and affordable housing
"The situation here is a person who has over €31,000 income and maybe less than €50,000 income, they’re in the middle. Something needs to be done for these people, they’re really snookered. How do we make it happen that the houses designated as Part V houses could be changed to affordable housing?”
Councillors also highlighted the emotional strain being experienced by people applying for social housing through the council's Choice Based Lettings scheme. Cllr Louise Morgan Walsh said applicants who were unsuccessful were often left waiting for answers and, in many cases, only learned they had missed out after hearing that neighbours had received offers.
"These people deserve to be written to, to say they haven't been successful. I don't think the way they're finding out is good enough."
Councillors, she said, were too often left to deliver the disappointing news.
"It has been very stressful. I have no problem telling someone they didn't make it, but the fact is we have no say when it comes to the application process, I find that we're left with breaking bad news."
Concerns were also raised over the level of information being provided to elected members about housing activity within the district.
Cllr Seamie Morris argued that housing reports did not reflect all recent acquisitions or developments and said councillors were expected to answer questions from the public without having the full picture.
"We're the ones that sell things to the public when we're asked about things, but we can't sell them. We're not the enemy. We have to have more of a partnership."
Housing Officer Gillian Barry said the housing department was willing to expand future reports to include additional information requested by councillors, including Part V developments and land acquisitions.
She also said the council would explore whether unsuccessful applicants under the Choice Based Lettings scheme could be notified, but explained that legal advice received by the local authority reaffirmed that GDPR prevented the council from sharing details of individual housing allocations with elected members.