Government “undermining” Tenant-in-Situ scheme, say Greens

The Green Party has learned that the Department of Housing has demoted the Tenant in Situ Scheme.

The party learned of the demotion through a response to a parliamentary question posed on behalf of a constituent to Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman.

In response to a question by party leader Roderic O’Gorman, the government stated that the tenant-in-situ “is not a scheme.”

“Rather it is a policy tool available to local authorities to prevent social housing supported households in the private rented sector from falling into homelessness. It should only be used as a last resort by local authorities when all other options have been exhausted,” they claimed.

“Any decision to progress an acquisition or otherwise, is a matter for the relevant local authority to determine, having regard to the local circumstances, other options available, and whether an acquisition is the appropriate policy response in those circumstances,” the reply noted.

“Accordingly, there is no application process for landlords or tenants,” it further stated.

Green Party spokesperson on housing, councillor Oliver Moran “I think the answer is a part of a constant undermining of the scheme by this government since they came into office.”

“First by defunding it, now by saying it’s not a ‘scheme’ at all, but some vague ‘policy tool,” he noted.

“The reality is that this was one measure that was really working for both tenants and landlords. Maybe its effectiveness is the reason it’s now obviously so hated by this government?” he mused.

“Honestly, nobody cares whose nose is put out of joint by what ‘scheme’ or ‘policy tool’ works, what matters is that it works. Government or civil service egos should get out of the way, if they aren’t putting people first.”