Tenants will not be evicted from apartments
TRANSITIONAL tenants at Tallaght Cross will not be evicted – a move welcomed by Tallaght Councillor Brian Leech.
Solidarity Cllr Leech raised the issue during a discussion on evictions at the South Dublin County Council monthly meeting – receiving confirmation that none of the tenants in 65 units at Tallaght Cross will be evicted for overholding.
Tallaght Cross apartments
Transitional tenants are from the homeless list and placed in temporary accommodation units.
“The apartments are owned by Tuath Housing and SDCC are renting 65 of the units. With the huge spike in the number of homeless people, some were placed there rather than put in hotels,” said Cllr Leech.
Cllr Leech said a change to the Tenancies Act a few years ago has left transitional tenants vulnerable.
He continued: “Before, a tenant living in a place for six months could get a part 4 and move onto another housing scheme. But this changed, and the agreement was that transitional housing was 18 months maximum.
“Things came to a head before Christmas when tenants hit the 18 months and received letters from the Residential Tenancies Board, telling them they were effectively overholding.
“One person was asked to leave on December 25. They got an extra month but what use is that.”
With nowhere for many tenants to go, Cllr Leech sought assurance from SDCC that they can remain in situ until accommodation can be sourced.
“Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said before Christmas there would be no evictions. It is up to SDCC to find properties. I have been to the RTB about five times with tenants.
“Everyone wants to move on and have their own place. A lot of the tenants are single mothers with children and they are left in limbo.”
