“The council operates an antisocial behaviour unit which deals with complaints and provides a 24-hour free phone line.”
LIMERICK city council has evicted two tenants, secured court orders against four and had three houses handed back as a result of complaints about anti-social behaviour this year. And unruly tenants have cost the local authority €6,700 in legal fees between the start of 2011 and now.
Figures provided to the Limerick Post by City Hall reveal the numbers of tenants that have come under council scrutiny this year.
So far in 2012, 87 new cases have been opened and 113 interviews have been conducted.
Subsequently 12 verbal warnings and 14 written warnings have been issued.
So far in 2012, 112 cases have been successfully closed.
Figures for 2011, show that the council opened 311 new cases as a result of complaints.
On foot of this 430 interviews were conducted, 59 verbal warnings and 52 written warnings were issued.
Last year, nine notices to quit were issued and 10 court orders for possession of properties were granted. 13 tenancies were voluntarily surrendered and six evictions were carried out,, while 293 cases were successfully closed at the end of 2011.
An official in the council’s housing department said that they “do not have specific details in relation to the number of residents who have applied to the local authority for a change of residence due to alleged anti-social behaviour by neighbours.”
All applications for transfer are considered in accordance with the terms of the Allocation Scheme,” on a case by case basis”.
The council operates an antisocial behaviour unit which deals with complaints and provides a 24 hour free phone line for reporting and recording complaints which has been in operation for approximately 18 months.
“The availability of this free phone line and the access to the staff of the antisocial behaviour unit has provided a mechanism for residents to make a complaint easily and in confidence and this has engendered confidence in residents and led to significant contact through these mechanisms,” the official said.
