Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 December 2004
40 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of landlords registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board before the 1 December 2004 deadline; if he is concerned by the extreme low registration level; and the measures he intends to take to address this problem. [32743/04]
View answer44 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the fact that an estimated 120,000 landlords failed to register with the Private Residential Tenancies Board by the deadline of 1 December 2004. [32740/04]
View answer46 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of complaints that have been filed against landlords to the recently established Private Residential Tenancies Board concerning anti-social behaviour by their tenants; if this new system is providing speedier resolution of such disputes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32677/04]
View answer50 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of landlords who had registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board by the deadline of 1 December 2004; when it is intended to bring the remainder of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32678/04]
View answer66 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he intends to take to ensure that non-compliant landlords register with the Residential Tenancies Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32775/04]
View answer
I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 44, 46, 50 and 66 together.
As the provisions of Part 6 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 dealing with dispute resolution only came into operation on 6 December 2004, along with all other provisions of the Act not previously commenced, insufficient time has elapsed for any formal applications for dispute resolution to have been received by the Private Residential Tenancies Board. I am confident that the new service will provide a speedier and generally more effective means of resolving disputes in the private rented sector and be very beneficial both to landlords and tenants.
Statutory responsibility for tenancy registration rests with the Private Residential Tenancies Board under the provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. My Department understands that there has been a very positive response by landlords generally to registration. The receipt and processing of applications by the board is continuing and the volume of applications already received indicates that the level of registrations is likely to be high.
While it may take some time to achieve maximum compliance, I am satisfied that landlords are increasingly becoming aware that it is in their interests to register and are generally showing willingness to comply with the registration requirement. Pursuance of non-compliant landlords and the initiation of proceedings against them, where necessary, is a matter for the board utilising its enforcement powers under the Act. I am confident that the board will be diligent in its efforts to secure the highest possible level of compliance with the registration requirement. I will be requesting regular progress reports on registration and my Department will maintain a general overview of the board's performance.
