I propose taking Questions Nos. 7, 112 and 115 together.
I have seen reports of claims of an increased incidence of illegal evictions from private rented accommodation in the Dublin area. The rights of tenants of such accommodation and the protection available to them are, in the first place, governed by the terms of the lease or other tenancy agreement under which the tenancies are held. These are subject to the provisions of the landlord and tenant code which is the responsibility of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I understand statistics on the number of evictions from private rented dwellings are not kept by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Government proposals for major reforms in the private rented residential sector, arising from the recommendations of the Commission on the Private Rented Residential Sector, were announced on 5 January. These reforms include improved security of tenure arrangements and the establishment of a private rented residential tenancies board to deal primarily with disputes between landlords and tenants. In the case of security of tenure, it is proposed to grant a tenant whose tenancy has not been terminated in the first six months, a right to continue in occupation for the remainder of a four-year period, unless the landlord needs to recover possession for specified reasons, such as for own or family member occupation, to sell or to redevelop. Successive four-year tenancy periods are envisaged, during the first six months of each of which the tenancy may be terminated without cause. A graduated notice to quit period related to the length of tenancy will apply ranging from a minimum of four weeks to a maximum of 16 weeks. In addition, rent levels will be no greater than market rent, and reviews will normally take place no more than once a year.
The implementation of these provisions will result in a major step forward for the private rented residential sector with improved security of tenure for tenants and greater certainty for landlords. Work is now commencing on a collaborative basis with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, on the preparation of legislation to give statutory effect to these proposals. Pending the enactment of the legislation, arrangements are being made for the establishment of the board on an ad hoc basis by the autumn.