Average waiting time for tenant transfer is three years

Meath Co Council officials have been asked to supply details of the number of tenants in each municipal district who are on the transfer lists for one, two, three and four-bedroomed houses in 2021, 2022, and 2023 and the average waiting time for transfers and the approved reasons for transfers.

The question was asked by Sinn Fein Cllr Helen Meyer. Officials responded that their information was extracted from the Net Need Analysis from the Annual Social Housing Assessment and this did not break down the figures for municipal districts.

There were 211 applicants on the transfer list in November 2021; 269 on the list in November 2022. There are 212 applicants on the list at present – 91 in Navan, 14 in Ashbourne, 32 in Kells, 20 in Laytown/Bettystown, 29 in Ratoath, and 26 in Trim. These figures include tenants of Meath Co Council Approved Housing Bodies and RAS tenants. The figures do not include people on the HAP scheme.

The average waiting time for a transfer is three years. Transfers may be considered under a number of headings – overcrowding, where elderly and other small households wish to surrender family type accommodation and move to smaller accommodation; medical/compassionate reasons; exceptional circumstances.

Tenants seeking transfer must fulfil certain criteria – hold tenancy in their present dwelling for a period of at least two years; a clear rent account for at least six months; all service charges must be paid up to date; kept their dwelling in satisfactory condition; comply with all conditions of their letting agreement and have no record of anti-social behaviour.