Retrofitted heat pumps inflate living costs to 'double rents' in this Irish county

Air-to-water heat pump systems installed in some retrofitted council housing are so high that is like a 'double rent' for tenants, a councillor has claimed.

Cllr John King, Fine Gael, delivered the warning to a fellow public representative who said he was ashamed of unhealthy council housing for the elderly in Mountmellick, Co Laois.

The contrasting state of some local authority housing in Mountmellick and Rathdowney was highlighted at a meeting with Laois County Council officials in Portlaoise.

Cllr Paddy Bracken, Fianna Fáil, tabled a motion that called on the Council to seek funding “urgently” from the Department of Housing to bring their maisonettes housing stock up to the required standard.

He said ‘wonderful work’ is being carried out in the housing generally by the local authority but some homes and tenants are being left behind.

“There are 30 maisonettes in my area in a very poor standard,” he said.

Cllr Bracken said doors and windows are timber and heating systems are in adequate.

“They are in shocking bad repair. They have been left behind. As a councillor I feel ashamed to see the state of the houses when I visit,” he said.

He said the tenants are not to blame for this nor is the council maintenance. He argued instead that it the buildings are not fit for purpose anymore. However, he insisted that the council has a responsibility to do something.

“The quality of housing is not up to standard. On the other hand the local authority is now empowered to inspect privately rented properties but our stock is very very poor. People are suffering from health complaints due to the damp and mould,” he said.

He said the residents are mainly elderly and have to rely on old and unsuitable solid fuel ranges. “It is unreal when you go in with some of those houses,” he said.

He called for a national response.

“I’d like to see a fund coming from the Government. They need to be retrofitted,” he said.

Cllr King supported Cllr Bracken and highlighted ‘super’  work done on similar houses in Rathdowney to bring them up to date. He cautioned about one costly retrofit retrofitting result for tenants due to the air-to-water heat pump systems installed.

“They are now paying a double rent because they are not used to paying for the heating. They have no control over the cost of it because it has to be on constantly...The running cost is quite expensive it is nearly equal to the rent,” he said.

Cllr King said that apart from new heating systems, windows and doors were also updated while the houses were insulated.

Trevor Hennessy, Acting Senior Engineer, Housing, replied in writing to the motions. 

“Laois County Council will make contact with the Department of Housing in this regard,” he said.

The issue was raised at the Borris-in-Ossory Moutmellick Municipal District meeting.