Market value a key issue in purchasing a council house

People in Kilrush who have lived in a council house for 10 years or more can chose to buy their house under the 2011 Purchase Scheme for long-standing tenants.
The scheme was debated at last week’s meeting of Kilrush Town Council, where some councillors said that the price being charged for the purchase of some council houses was too expensive.
“The big elephant in the room is market value,” Councillor Tom Prendeville commented. He said that he knew of one council tenant who had offered €22,000 for a council house, which had been valued at €200,000.
“When you go into an estate and see 30 to 35 houses boarded up, you won’t have a queue outside the town hall, wanting to buy a council house,” Councillor Prendeville added.
In a written presentation, Kilrush Town Council said that ‘market value’ or the cost of the house, was the figure that in the opinion of the council, the house would realise if it was sold on the open market.
“Can the tenant bring in his or her own private valuer?” Councillor Tom Clyne queried.
However, the meeting heard that the council would decide what the market value was.
“Nobody would give me €10,000 in the morning,” Councillor Stephen O’Gorman said of his house in John Paul Estate.
“I can’t see anyone coming into the estate to buy a house,” he added, stating that there was 36 vacant houses in John Paul Estate at the moment.
Councillor Prendeville also asked if Kilrush Town Council would buy back a council house from an owner at market value.