A seven-month rent dispute which had left a newly built €17 million senior citizens’ complex in Dublin’s north inner city largely empty has been resolved.
Elderly tenants on Dublin City Council's housing waiting list will next week begin moving into Fr Scully House, a complex of 99 apartments near Mountjoy Square, following an agreement over rents between the council and the Catholic Housing Aid Society.
The society wanted to charge an average monthly rent of €580 for the apartments it built using State funds, but has agreed to accept the €400 proposed by the council and the Housing Agency.
The council and the society had been in negotiations since last July over the level of rent to be charged to tenants, as well as construction-related costs.
Left empty
The issue came to a head last December when it appeared the building would be left empty.
Following the intervention of Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly, the society agreed to charge standard social housing rents to 23 elderly people who had been tenants of the original Fr Scully House, a 1960s flat complex demolished six years ago to make way for the new development.
However, the other 76 apartments in the complex remained empty as agreement on rents for tenants on the council’s waiting list could not be reached.
The society said there were also construction-related costs it wanted assurances would be paid.
These related to a bill of €350,000 from the council for traffic management during the project, delays the society said were caused by the ESB and Bord Gáis Éireann, and funds for the long-term maintenance of the building.
A spokesman for Mr Kelly said there was agreement these would be covered as part of an €800,000 payment once the final account was submitted.
Mr Kelly on Monday welcomed the end of the dispute. “I’m glad that common sense prevailed and that rents remain at their original level.”
Selection
Of the 76 apartments, 25 will be given to senior citizens who have reached the top of the social housing list for the area.
The remaining apartments will also go to elderly people on the list, but the society will have an input into their selection.
Tenants who moved in before Christmas have formed a residents’ association. They said they were glad the building was being brought into full use, but were concerned the intervention of Mr Kelly would result in undue haste in the selection of tenants.
“Our concern is that there might be an attempt to short circuit the vetting system and that people would be selected without due diligence being carried out,” said Tony Egan, residents’ association chairman.
A spokesman for the society said it had been working on the tenant application process in collaboration with Cluid housing association, and the selection of new tenants was well advanced.
