‘Substandard’ social housing breaches European human rights

In its ruling, the ECSR found that the State was failing to take sufficient and timely measures to ensure an adequate standard of housing for families in local authority housing.

It also found the presence of sewage, contaminated water, dampness, and persistent mould raised “serious concerns” for habitability.

The case was brought to the ECSR in a class action by tenants of 20 local authority estates in Dublin, Cork and Limerick, submitted by the International Federation for Human Rights. It was taken under article 16 of the European Social Charter, which Ireland ratified in 2000.

The ECSR found that the last assessment of the conditions of local housing was in 2002, and that “no national timetable for the refurbishment of local authority housing stock exists”.

Emily Logan, chief commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, said the decision “is significant and requires action by Government”.

Ms Logan added: “The collective legal complaint, made by tenants of local authority estates across the country, has highlighted significant problems in the standard of accommodation being provided.

“The European Committee of Social Rights puts a direct focus on the conditions of social housing with findings showing people living in houses which are damp and mouldy, facing water contamination and with sewage seepage.

“There is, as the ECSR points out, a legal framework regulating Local Authority housing in Ireland which is almost identical to that of private rented accommodation, however from this decision is it clear that significant action is needed to meet basic human rights standards.”