Wexford housing applicants thwarted by technology as choice-based letting system excludes offline hopefuls

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

Elderly housing applicants are potentially missing out on suitable properties due to a new system which can only be used online. Under the choice-based letting (CBL) system Wexford County Council (WCC) lists available properties for social housing applicants who can then express an interest in the house.

However, Enniscorthy councillor Aidan Browne fears that those not used to dealing with technology may be losing out on possible housing opportunities.

“With regards to those who aren’t using the CBL system, are we contacting them, particularly the older people, to find out why they’re not using it and if they’re able to use it?” he asked at the monthly meeting of the Enniscorthy Municipal District (EMD). “Is technology the problem? There’s still some people who don’t even know about CBL.”

In response, housing officer Roseanne Redmond said the council was making every effort to engage with those who either weren’t aware of CBL or didn’t know how to use it.

“We are reviewing it and we can see if someone is not using it, the area housing officer can then contact them to go through it,” she said. “In addition, if you know of anyone who is struggling with it please bring it to our attention because there are supports available.”

One of the major bugbears for councillors in the past has been the lack of contact with those who have been unsuccessful in their application for a CBL property. But Ms Redmond said this was now being addressed.

“We are working on a system whereby when an applicant bids on a property and they are unsuccessful they get an email notifying them, that’s in progress.”