Vol. 452 No. 2
10 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment when he will introduce regulations under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992, requiring owners of private rented accommodation to register their properties and maintain the properties and the surrounds in good and tidy order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6478/95]
The drafting of new regulations to require the public registration of lettings in the private rented sector has now reached an advanced stage. Before finalising the regulations, I have undertaken a full consultation process so that account can be taken of the views of all the interests involved, including the local authorities.
The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 1993, already require that all equipment, fittings, facilities and areas used in common by the occupants of more than one dwelling are kept in good repair, safe working order and clean condition; and that all out-offices, yards, etc., within the curtilage of the building, and boundaries, are maintained in good repair.
What groups, apart from the local authorities and public representatives, will the Minister consult? I am sure she is aware that many residential areas, particularly in Dublin, have become very shabby and run-down because of the poor condition in which private rented houses are kept. One would know which houses are rented just by looking at the gardens, the curtains and how bins are thrown around. Is the Minister aware of the problem in some of the older more settled parts of Dublin? Can she give an approximate timetable for bringing the regulations into force?
In answer to the first point, I am consulting organisations representing tenants and landlords as well as the local authorities. I am confident that I will be in a position to proceed very soon. I remind the Deputy that this is part of a package, much of which is already in place. Regulations are already in place for mandatory rent books and other regulations relate to physical standards. In the budget there is the welcome development of an income tax allowance. Registration is the final part of the package. I intend to proceed shortly to complete that package in compliance with the obligations on us in the Government programme to provide a charter of tenants' rights.
I welcome the budget provision but, unfortunately, all it will do is push rents up. There is a huge amount of so-called flatland in my constituency and I do not think this provision will, in the long term, have a good effect on tenants.
Will the Minister examine a system in other countries whereby the landlord is obliged to ensure that one person in a house in flats takes responsibility for certain things such as cleaning public areas and putting refuse out on the proper day? The big problem is the amount of refuse thrown out on the wrong day into the back or front yards of these places. Flatland areas have a bad name because of the interaction, or lack of it, between landlords and tenants. They could be improved if a system such as the one I suggest was in operation.
The Litter Act was enacted to ensure that people do not create this kind of nuisance. I would be interested to hear more about the Deputy's proposal but I imagine it would only be applicable in larger apartment complexes, and there is a whole range of accommodation in the private rented sector.
I do not see registration of landlords as the end of the road but it is an important step that needs to be taken quickly to ensure that we have a register in place operated in a very simple way by the local authorities.
Will the Minister consider strengthening regulations relating to the prohibition on reletting accommodation from which people have been rehoused because they were living in bad conditions? It has been my experience that people have been deservedly rehoused in a flat or house, having lived in deplorable conditions, yet within a week, without any action by the local authority, the original accommodation is relet to somebody else and the cycle begins again. Will the Minister ensure the enforcement of the regulations that prevent a house from being relet until it is properly refurbished and basic facilities provided?
I am monitoring what is happening at local authority level. One of the actions of this Government is to increase the house building programme which will be an enormous help in ensuring that there is not an overdependence on the private sector because of housing need. I accept the Deputy's point that there are unacceptable instances of houses being relet after the existing tenants have been rehoused by the local authority, and I hope that when the registration system is in place it will be of help to the local authorities.
Registration of landlords may not be a complete answer but it does give a framework for standards and action following from it. Earlier we spoke about tidy districts and tidy towns — there is no reason suburban areas of Dublin should be excluded from improving their standards.
I understand the Minister is working towards a more integrated system between local authority and private rented accommodation but at present there is a perceived bonanza for people who let accommodation. I wish the Minister well and look forward to more co-operation between the Departments of the Environment, Finance and Social Welfare in pulling the various strands together.
Will the Minister confirm that the regulations she intends to introduce will apply to houses let in one unit and not just to those let in three or more units?
I certainly will not go into specifics at this stage, but I assure the Deputy that he will not have to wait too long to be advised on the full nature of the regulations.
