Vol. 558 No. 3
189 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if private rented sector legislation will not compromise successor tenants' ability to claim rights under the Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Act, 1980. [24094/02]
The Commission on the Private Rented Residential Sector recommended the introduction of a four year security of tenure measure and the consequential abolition, after a transitional five year period, of the right to claim, for the first time, a lease under Part II of the Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Act, 1980. The Government accepted this recommendation, as it did virtually all of the Commission's recommendations. The housing private rented sector Bill currently being drafted will provide accordingly.
The effect of the Bill when enacted will be to confine the ability to claim rights under Part II of the 1980 Act to a period of five years from the commencement of the legislation. This will apply equally to successor tenants in the formerly rent controlled sector and to tenants in the uncontrolled sector. Where a tenant does not exercise such rights before the end of the five year period it is the intention that the provisions of the housing private rented sector Bill will apply.
