Tenant in-situ scheme keeping people in Mayo in their homes

THIRTY-NINE properties have been bought by the council under the tenant in-situ scheme, Castlebar Municipal District (MD) councillors have been told.

Local authorities can buy homes under the scheme where tenants have received a notice to quit and a landlord is interested in selling.

In total, 60 properties have been looked at, with 39 purchased, keeping those people in their homes, David Mellett, Castlebar MD head, explained, when asked for an update at a local area meeting.

It is a valuable scheme for keeping people in their homes, he added.

Councillor Cyril Burke questioned if there was an issue with budgets to do work that may be needed on properties.

There is funding for purchasing but resources are also needed for renovations.

He was told the department will pay for purchasing a home and works up to a certain threshold - to be done within six months, which the department is flexible about.