Housing body accused of ‘negligence’ over Sarsfield Square properties

By Rebekah O'Reilly

An angry Athlone councillor has accused housing agency Respond of “absolute negligence” over its handling of houses it owns in Sarsfield Square.

Speaking at last week’s meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District of Westmeath County Council, Cllr Aengus O'Rourke expressed concerns in relation to the ongoing issue of vacant houses in Athlone's Sarsfield Square.

Director of Services Jackie Finney said she has been engaging with the Department of Housing and Respond on the issue, and had been informed that Respond was "carrying out initial surveys and costings" on the houses in Sarsfield Square.

"At this stage, I have very serious governance concerns about Respond," Cllr O'Rourke said.

"They're only costing now a group of houses, some of which have been vacant for up to 15 years. That is an absolute scandal in the teeth of a housing crisis.

"Have we reported them to the housing body? Because they need to be aware of the absolute negligence in this case.”

He continued that local authorities are mandated to identify and activate long-term vacant houses.

"These are under our nose, and I'm beyond furious. What can we do as a local authority to raise these governance concerns over a body who is armed with the responsibility to manage stock, and they're not doing it."

Director of Services Jackie Finney said: "The department are taking this seriously.”

"There's a certain amount of pressure I can apply, but they have a responsibility themselves to comply with regulations."

When asked by Cllr O'Rourke to confirm whether the houses in Sarsfield Square were registered as derelict sites, Ms Finney noted that they were not.

Cllr O'Rourke asked that they write to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, on his concerns about Respond.

Last year, Respond said it was "exploring all options" to ensure the houses are returned to as living standard.

paid a six-figure sum to retrofit one residential property in Athlone's Sarsfield Square.

The housing agency acquired the properties from the Athlone and District Housing Association in 2017.

"We would hope, that in consultation with the local authority, we can find a solution for these properties in Sarsfield Square," Director of Respond Housing Association Neil Bolton said in September, during a presentation to the Athlone-Moate Municipal District regarding vacant properties in Sarsfield Square.

Respond manages 16 houses in Sarsfield Square, four of which have been vacant for some time, and had been the subject of criticism from the District's elected members, many of whom have referenced the poor condition of the properties at previous meetings.

The Respond Director confirmed that a "sum of six figures" had been spent on retrofitting and refurbishing one of the 12 Sarsfield Square Respond properties in which there are occupants.

"The retrofit and refurbishment of the property is a model of what can be achieved but it cost a six-figure sum to get the house to the energy level upgrade required," Mr Bolton said. The Director said that Respond were "exploring funding options" for the remaining Sarsfield Square properties, but added that financial support from Government was not readily accessible.An angry Athlone councillor has accused housing agency Respond of “absolute negligence” over its handling of houses it owns in Sarsfield Square.

Speaking at last week’s meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District of Westmeath County Council, Cllr Aengus O'Rourke expressed concerns in relation to the ongoing issue of vacant houses in Athlone's Sarsfield Square.

Director of Services Jackie Finney said she has been engaging with the Department of Housing and Respond on the issue, and had been informed that Respond was "carrying out initial surveys and costings" on the houses in Sarsfield Square.

"At this stage, I have very serious governance concerns about Respond," Cllr O'Rourke said.

"They're only costing now a group of houses, some of which have been vacant for up to 15 years. That is an absolute scandal in the teeth of a housing crisis.

"Have we reported them to the housing body? Because they need to be aware of the absolute negligence in this case.”

He continued that local authorities are mandated to identify and activate long-term vacant houses.

"These are under our nose, and I'm beyond furious. What can we do as a local authority to raise these governance concerns over a body who is armed with the responsibility to manage stock, and they're not doing it."

Director of Services Jackie Finney said: "The department are taking this seriously.”

"There's a certain amount of pressure I can apply, but they have a responsibility themselves to comply with regulations."

When asked by Cllr O'Rourke to confirm whether the houses in Sarsfield Square were registered as derelict sites, Ms Finney noted that they were not.

Cllr O'Rourke asked that they write to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, on his concerns about Respond.

Last year, Respond said it was "exploring all options" to ensure the houses are returned to as living standard.

paid a six-figure sum to retrofit one residential property in Athlone's Sarsfield Square.

The housing agency acquired the properties from the Athlone and District Housing Association in 2017.

"We would hope, that in consultation with the local authority, we can find a solution for these properties in Sarsfield Square," Director of Respond Housing Association Neil Bolton said in September, during a presentation to the Athlone-Moate Municipal District regarding vacant properties in Sarsfield Square.

Respond manages 16 houses in Sarsfield Square, four of which have been vacant for some time, and had been the subject of criticism from the District's elected members, many of whom have referenced the poor condition of the properties at previous meetings.

The Respond Director confirmed that a "sum of six figures" had been spent on retrofitting and refurbishing one of the 12 Sarsfield Square Respond properties in which there are occupants.

"The retrofit and refurbishment of the property is a model of what can be achieved but it cost a six-figure sum to get the house to the energy level upgrade required," Mr Bolton said. The Director said that Respond were "exploring funding options" for the remaining Sarsfield Square properties, but added that financial support from Government was not readily accessible.