Vol. 528 No. 1
44 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of tenants who are in rent controlled dwellings here; the number who will receive notices to quit when their current security of tenure rights expire in July 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28057/00]
The Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Act, 1982, confers a right to retain, as a tenant, possession of a formerly rent controlled dwelling for the lifetime of the person who was the tenant at the commencement of the Act – 26 July 1982 – and for the lifetime of their spouse. Where a member or successive members of the tenant's family succeeded to the tenancy within 20 years of the commencement of the Act, the right to retain possession continues to 25 July 2002, subject to a minimum tenancy period of five years, even where this may extend beyond that date.
While there are currently around 9,400 formerly rent controlled tenancies registered with local authorities the provisions of the legislation are such that it is not possible to estimate how many of these will be affected by the legislative changes due in July 2002. For this reason, and in order to establish a more accurate and detailed profile of those remaining in the sector, my Department has asked local authorities to undertake a postal survey of tenants. The outcome of this survey, which is currently under way, is designed to give an indication of the extent to which tenants may be affected and will inform any future policy decisions that may be required.
