Social Housing Tenant Information

All tenants sign a tenancy agreement setting out rights and responsibilities. The Tenant Handbook explains the Council’s responsibilities, the tenant’s responsibilities and tenant rights. 

Before becoming a local authority tenant, all tenants must sign a tenancy agreement. This agreement outlines the terms of the tenancy and is a legal contract between the tenant and the Council. Under the terms of the agreement, both the tenant and the Council have specific rights and responsibilities. 

The Tenant Handbook will help you understand your tenancy agreement. Read it carefully and keep it in a safe place with your copy of your tenancy agreement. The handbook is available to download at the link below:.

Download the Longford County Council Tenant Handbook by clicking this link 

Download a draft/template copy of a Longford County Council Tenancy Agreement by clicking this link

This handbook outlines:  

• The Council’s responsibilities;  

• Your responsibilities as a tenant; and  

• Your rights as a tenant. 

Longford County Council tenants must pay weekly rent to the Longford County Council for their property.

Please have your account number available when contacting staff in relation to your rent account

1. How to pay my rent?
2. How is my rent calculated?
3. Rent Arrears
4. Further information

You can find more information about how to Pay your rent by clicking this link 

Hardship Application

In exceptional circumstances where payment of rent calculated in accordance with this Scheme would, in the opinion of the Local Authority, give rise to hardship, the Authority may agree to accept a lesser sum from the Tenant for a specified period (subject to regular reviews and supporting documentation).

How To Apply

1. All applications to have rent reduced due to hardship must be submitted on the Prescribed form to the Housing Office for consideration.  Click here for the application form for a reduction in rent due to hardship.
   
   
2. The form should be accompanied by supporting documentary evidence of the exceptional needs of the household to be considered e.g. Medical expenses that are not covered by a medical card or where financial assistance is not provided by another means/scheme - proof of medical expenses must be provided.

• Details of exceptional transport/parking costs incurred to avail of medical services – proof must be provided.
• Exceptional transport costs to and from work.
• Proof of exceptionally low income in the case of the Self-Employed
• Other relevant information supporting an application.

3. Upon receipt of the completed form and supporting documentation, the Council will consider and make its decision on the application.
   
   
4. Notification of the decision will be forwarded to the tenant.
   
   
5. No rent reduction granted will result in a tenant paying less than the minimum rent of€30 per week.
   
   
6. In the event of a tenant not being satisfied with the decision on the application an appeal can be made in writing to the Senior Executive Officer.

Tenants should check tenancy agreements to determine responsibility for repairs. Tenants are generally responsible for many internal repairs, while the Council is responsible for structural repairs. Emergency maintenance issues are prioritised. Out-of-hours emergencies can be reported to 1800 211 525. Emergency services should be contacted directly for urgent life, fire, ambulance, Garda or gas leak situations. 

How to Report a Repair Request

Before making a maintenance request, please refer to your Tenancy Agreement and Tenants Handbook to check what type of repairs are the responsibility of the tenant and what type of repairs are the responsibility of the landlord.

Generally, Tenants are responsible for certain internal, external, electrical, plumbing repairs and cleaning of chimneys. Tenants are also responsible for repairs to handles, locks and hinges on doors and windows and to electrical appliances. The Council is generally responsible for structural repairs that will affect the integrity of the house.

You may make a request in person at the Council’s office in Longford or contact the Customer Service Desk by phone on 043 334 34 99 or by email at HousingMaintenance@longfordcoco.ie

To Call the Customer Service desk please click here

Click here to email the Housing Maintenance section

We will prioritise emergency and urgent requests. Other routine requests will be attended to as resources permit.

If an emergency should arise outside normal working hours, tenants can call the Longford County Council's out-of-hours number

Examples of an Emergency:

• Serious risk to life or health
• Imminent threat of the house being flooded by water or sewage 
• Total failure of the electricity supply or an electrical fault
• A risk of significant damage to the property
• If Longford County Council personnel are called out where there is not an emergency, the tenant will be charged the full cost of the call–out. If the problem does not fall into the above categories, report the problem as soon as possible on the next working day.

If you need the FIRE BRIGADE, GARDAI or an AMBULANCE, DIAL 999 or 112 . DO NOT WAIT for a member of our staff. If you have a GAS LEAK, phone the Gas Networks Ireland 24 hour Emergency Service IMMEDIATELY on 1850 205050

Tenants of the Council, including tenants of dwellings provided under the Social Housing Leasing Initiative, RAS, or by AHBs may apply for consideration for a transfer to other social housing dwellings, i.e. Council house/ Approved Housing Body/ Leased property. 

What are the grounds for requesting a transfer? 

• Overcrowding; 

• Where older persons and other households wish to move to smaller accommodation (downsizing); 

• Medical/compassionate reasons; 

• On grounds of anti-social behaviour where the Council’s Estate Management Liaison Officer or An Garda Siochána support the transfer application; 

• Other exceptional circumstances. 

• To facilitate incremental purchase, where the authority has consented to such a purchase. 

Are all transfer requests granted? 

Only Tenancies that meet the following criteria to the satisfaction of the housing authority will be considered eligible for a transfer.  

• hold the tenancy in their present dwelling, for a period of at least two years, unless it is a temporary tenancy; 

• have a clear rent account – any transfer will take account of rent arrears but allowances may be made where an agreement is in place, and being adhered to by the tenant to address any such arrears over an agreed period of time; 

• have kept their dwelling in satisfactory condition, subject to inspection; 

• have complied with the conditions of their Tenancy Agreement and 

• have no record of anti-social behaviour. 

Download Tenancy Transfer Application Form

For further details contact the Tenancy Management Team by phone on 043 334 34 99

For further information please email housingofficer@longfordcoco.ie

To call the Tenancy Management Team by phone please click this link

You can email the Tenancy Management Team for more information by clicking this link

As a Longford County Council tenant you can apply to have appropriate works carried out to your property. You will have to make an application to the Housing Grants Section, by email on lahousegrants@longfordcoco.ie or phone 043-3343499

You can email the Housing Grants Section by clicking this link

To call the  Housing Grants Section please click this link

Download the Form

You can download the form by clicking this link

If you are a Longford County Council tenant living in a local authority house that is available for sale under the scheme, and you meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply to purchase your house.

However, there are a number of types and uses of houses not eligible under the scheme, such as:

• Apartments, flats, maisonettes and duplexes;
• Houses specially designed for older people;
• Houses provided for people with disabilities to help them leave institutional care and live in the community;
• Houses that are part of a group housing scheme for members of the Traveller community;
• Caravans, mobile homes or other homes that can be moved;
• Houses in a private development transferred to the local authority by the developer;
• Houses reserved by the local authority for particular reasons.

Forms / Related documents

The Tenant Incremental Purchase Scheme Tenant Information Handbook (2022) provides further details on the scheme.

Click here to view the Tenant Incremental Purchase Scheme Tenant Information Handbook

• Click here to view the Tenant Purchase Application Form

Contact Us

• To contact the Housing section about the Tenant Incremental Purchase Scheme email: tps@Longfordcoco.ie
• Click this link to email the Housing section about the Tenant Incremental Purchase Scheme

Longford County Council is committed to the prevention of anti-social behaviour in our houses and estates and takes a proactive approach to the problem.

Anti-Social Behaviour (Plain English)

Anti-social behaviour is behaviour that harms or negatively affects other people living in the community.

This includes:

• Selling, supplying or dealing illegal drugs.
• Violence or threats of violence.
• Intimidation, bullying, harassment or coercive behaviour.
• Behaviour that causes fear, danger, injury, damage or loss to neighbours or other people in the area.
• Serious conduct that prevents people from peacefully enjoying their homes or neighbourhood.​

What to do if you are a victim of Anti-Social Behaviour

Contact An Garda Síochána at your local station, or dial 999 in an emergency.

Longford Garda station - (043) 335 0570

Granard Garda station - (043) 668 7660

If you are a tenant of Longford County Council

Longford County Council aims to investigate all complaints fairly, impartially, and objectively, to provide a professional service to our customers/clients/tenants/residents who are victims of anti-social behaviour and to work towards the prevention and reduction of such behaviour to provide a safe and secure environment for our tenants.

Click here to download the download the Anti Social Behaviour Strategy 2022 - 2027

Making a complaint

If you wish to make a report or complaint to Longford County Council, please complete the Anti-Social Behaviour Complaint Form and return to the Housing Department, Longford County Council, Great Water Street, Longford by post or at the email address below.

Click here to download the Anti-Social Behaviour Complaint Form

Longford County Council will not investigate complaint without your contact details. All complaints are dealt with in a confidential manner.

For further information, email: asbcomplaints@longfordcoco.ie or telephone 043 334 34 99

You can email the Council with an anti social behaviour complaint by clicking this link 

To call the Housing office with an anti social behaviour complaint please click this link

What is Estate Management? 

Estate management means helping to create, maintain and protect a safe, clean and well-managed housing estate.

This includes:

• Supporting tenants, homeowners and residents in enjoying their homes and community.
• Protecting residents' interests and quality of life.
• Preventing and addressing anti-social behaviour.
• Promoting a safe, respectful and positive environment for everyone living in the estate.

It also means that tenants must be responsible neighbours and respect the peace and quiet of others.

Pre Tenancy Courses

The first step in this process of communication is the involvement of tenants in a pre-tenancy training course. This course provides tenants with relevant information on Council and other services in the area. To this end, each new tenant is provided with a copy of the Tenant Handbook. 

Good Estate Management

The Council has a particular interest in promoting good estate management practices and community empowerment. It attempts to do this by encouraging the development of Residents Groups to manage their own estates. In addition, guidance can be given to the creation of Associations in new estates.

Estate Grant and Awards Scheme 

Residents Groups of Council Estates can apply for grants under the Council's Better Estate Grant and Awards Scheme. 

The purpose of the scheme is to recognise and support outstanding efforts made by groups or individuals dedicated to improving the appearance or amenity value of public areas.

For further information contact the Housing Section by phone on 043-3343499 or emailing housingofficer@longfordcoco.ie

Click here to email the Housing section

To call the Housing section please click this link