This article is from page 2 of the 2012-10-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
NEIGHBOURS from hell are causing house prices to fall further in some areas of Ennis, a meeting has heard.
The claim was made at the October meeting of Ennis Town Council. Fine Gael councillor Johnny Flynn told the meeting that estate agents in the town had told him that the behaviour of problem tennants are bringing down the value of property.
Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) said he was aware of one woman who had trouble getting rent from a problem tenant. He said that the man stole heating oil from the tank when he finally left the house.
Councillors were discussing a motion tabled by Cllr Flynn calling for tougher legislation on to deal with anti-social behaviour and “neighbours from hell”. He stated there is a need for “strengthening of bad neighbours and bad tenants sections of private tenancy legislation currently being drafted”.
Cllr Flynn continued, “Anti-social behaviour in estates, whether private of local authority, is destroying peoples lives and needs also to be addressed by a range of effective legislation including terms of access or withdrawal of state benefits, low cost alcohol.”
Cllr Flynn told the meeting that the Private Rental Tenancies Board (PRTB), the body tasked with dealing with disputes between third parties and landlords, “is not effective or user friendly”.
He described the level of anti-social behaviour in some private estates in Ennis as “appalling”. Deputy Mayor of Ennis Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said he would support the motion of the reference to low cost alcohol was removed.
Cllr Mary Coote Ryan (FG) also expressed support for the motion. “It’s a different ball game now,” she said.
Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said similar motions had been ignored by Clare TDs and Senators in the past. Cllr Neylon said the council is getting the brush off from Ministers. “They’re saying shut yer mouths or ye’ll be done away with.” Cllr Neylon said the Taoiseach should be invited to Ennis to see the problems caused by anti-social behaviour. Th e w in t e r is slo w ly a n n o u n c in g it s e lf, w it h so m e c h illie r d a ys b u t m ild e n o u g h fo r t h is t im e o f ye a r.