Clúid Housing Implements ‘Three Strikes’ Policy for Anti-Social Behaviour in Dublin Developments
Clúid Housing, a leading Approved Housing Body (AHB) in Ireland, has adopted a “three strikes” policy to address anti-social behaviour (ASB) among its tenants. The policy, revealed during a presentation to Dublin City Councillors at the North Central Area Committee meeting on March 24, 2026, outlines a progressive warning system that can ultimately lead to eviction. This comes one month after a similar presentation was delivered by Tuath Housing, signaling a broader effort to improve communication between councillors and AHBs managing social housing.
Addressing a Growing Challenge
According to Sarah Mallon, Regional Housing Manager at Clúid, anti-social behaviour represents one of the most significant challenges facing the organization. The “three strikes” procedure is designed to address volatile behaviour and, as a last resort, evict tenants who repeatedly engage in disruptive conduct. The process involves a tiered warning system, with escalating consequences for each infraction.
The ‘Three Strikes’ Procedure
Ms. Mallon explained that the process operates on a timeline. A level one warning is issued initially, and a six-month period must elapse before further action can be taken. Evictions are considered only in extreme cases, after all other interventions have been exhausted. “It’s not our aim. Our aim is to acquire to the root of the problem,” she stated.
Support and Training for Staff
Clúid Housing emphasizes a proactive approach to identifying and addressing potential issues. Staff members receive training to recognize signs of domestic violence and coercive control, ensuring that evictions are handled with sensitivity and are only considered as a last resort. Since the opening of the Parkside development in Belmayne, Dublin 13, Clúid has issued two notices of termination due to serious and unresolved issues.
Encouraging Resident Reporting
Ms. Mallon urged residents experiencing anti-social behaviour to report it to Clúid Housing. While acknowledging concerns about potential retaliation, she assured residents that names would be redacted when reporting incidents to bodies like the Residential Tenancies Board. Clúid also noted that General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) can limit information sharing, and consent forms are available on their website.
Tenant Satisfaction and Investment in Housing
Despite concerns about ASB, Clúid Housing reports a high overall tenant satisfaction rate of 84%, with 9% dissatisfied and 7% neutral. The organization plans to invest €17.5 million into its housing stock over the next ten years, carrying out approximately 25,000 repairs annually across its 14,500 homes. Recent repair issues include balcony defects (costing €250,000) and poorly designed heating systems (requiring a €500,000 review).
Collaboration with Gardaí and Local Authorities
Clúid Housing collaborates with the Gardaí (Irish police) to address anti-social behaviour. However, Ms. Mallon identified ASB as their “biggest challenge.”
Funding and Financial Structure
Jo Whittall, Deputy Chief Operations Officer, highlighted the challenges Clúid faces in delivering more housing, citing “government carefully controlling financing and funding” and the “increasing cost of building new buildings.” He explained that the current funding structure doesn’t provide sufficient resources for long-term maintenance. Approximately 20% of Clúid’s spending goes towards housing management, 20% towards building costs, and 60% towards interest and debt repayment.
Non-Profit Status
Mr. Whittall emphasized that Clúid Housing is a non-profit organization, with all earnings reinvested into providing more social and affordable housing. He acknowledged past problems encountered by AHBs but stated they are “learning how to deal with these problems as we find them.”
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