Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2013
385. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress made in reviewing the legislation in respect of standards in privately rented accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15018/13]
View answerMinimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. They specify requirements in relation to a range of matters such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and safety of gas and electrical supply. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations and responsibility for the enforcement of the regulations rests with the relevant local authority supported by a dedicated stream of funding provided from part of the proceeds of tenancy registration fees collected by the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB).
On 1 February 2013, Articles 6, 7 and 8 of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008 came into effect for all existing residential rented accommodation. This means, inter alia, that all rental accommodation must now have its own separate sanitary facilities. The requirements in relation to heating and facilities for cooking, food storage and laundry have also been updated.
The Regulations took effect in their entirety for all rented properties being let for the first time from 1 February 2009. However, in some cases Articles 6, 7 and 8 of the regulations may have required significant refurbishment works for existing tenancies and as such a four year phasing-in period was afforded to these properties to facilitate any improvement works that needed to be carried out. This phasing-in period was introduced to take account of views expressed in wide-ranging consultations during the development of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008 that it would be necessary to allow time for the carrying out of any significant remedial work that could be involved in achieving compliance. My Department keeps the appropriateness of the current standards under review and it engages on a regular basis with local authorities on the implementation and enforcement of the significantly strengthened current standards.
