‘Shutter’ social houses in Louth a target for anti-social behaviour
The Drogheda IndependentLouth County Council are taking steps to “shutter” vacant social houses at risk of vandalism or anti-social behaviour, councillors heard at their monthly meeting.
Cllr. Sionainn McCann highlighted a number of incidents in the county where tenants had left a property “and very quickly they became subject to anti-social behaviour.”
She told the council that in one instance gardai had to be called to a social house that had previously been occupied by an elderly person who had moved into a nursing home.
"What is procedure when this happens, what checks are made when a house has been left by one of our tenants?”
She asked if there was any maintenance carried out when this happens, saying that gardens are often left overgrown, and windows can be smashed in.
Director of Services, Ger Murphy told the meeting that were many reasons why people move out of a social house, adding that they don’t always inform the council that they are leaving.
He said that there anti-social behaviour issues arise around a vacant house the council would move to install shutters in an effort to block access.
"In the past fortnight I have signed a number of orders to seal houses due to anti-social behaviour, and the very issues raised today.”
He explained that sealing houses can be costly, and in some cases the council have to remove people from vacant units which could also be a difficult process.
"Once we are are aware that a house is empty we can assess the situation, and can decide to leave as is, but in other cases we may need to shutter it, using wooden shutters, or if there is a significant risk we can use steel shutters.”
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