Vol. 519 No. 3
198 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, further to his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 406 of 10 May 2000, he will outline the number of households that have the right to retain a tenancy under the 1982 Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13931/00]
Precise figures are not available regarding the number of households which, at this stage, have a right to retain tenancy under the Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Act, 1982. The Department is seeking to ascertain this information in the context of making appropriate arrangements to address the post July 2002 situation, when the current legislative provisions expire in relation to successors to a tenant or the spouse of a tenant. A tenant or the spouse of a tenant have, of course, protection for their lifetime under the terms of the 1982 Act.
Over the last six years, the rent tribunal, which sets rent levels for formerly rent controlled dwellings, has dealt with 521 cases in total. If this figure can be used as any sort of guideline then the number of formerly rent controlled tenancies is likely to be relatively small.
