Tony Gregory
Question:570 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will consider the need for a rent tribunal in view of the spiralling rent increases in the private rental sector. [1815/00]
Written Answers. - Rent Tribunal.
A rent tribunal was established in 1983 under the Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) (Amendment) Act, 1983. It is the arbitrating body in the determination of the terms of tenancy –both rent and responsibility for care and maintenance–of dwellings which were formerly rent controlled under the Rent Restrictions Acts and in respect of which the Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Act, 1982, conferred rights of possession on certain tenants.
The question of the affordability of private rented residential accommodation is one of the issues being examined by the Commission on the Private Rented Residential Sector which I established last July. I have asked the commission to make such recommendations, including changes to the law, as the commission considers proper, equitable and feasible with a view to improving the security of tenure of tenants in the occupation of their dwellings; maintaining a fair and reasonable balance between the respective rights and obligations of landlords and existing and future tenants; increasing investment in, and the supply of, residential accommodation for renting, including the removal of any identified constraints to the development of the sector.
The commission has been asked to report to me by 1 June of this year and I will carefully examine any recommendations of the commission.