Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2017
385. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to legislate to prevent overcrowding in houses which rent out rooms to persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10164/17]
View answer387. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) on 15 February 2017 regarding the treatment of tenants by a person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10166/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 387 together.
The issue of overcrowded houses is dealt with in Part IV of the Housing Act 1966. Under that Act, a housing authority may request information from the owner or occupier of a house such as will allow that authority to determine if a house can be deemed to be overcrowded, having regard to section 63 of the Act.
The housing authority may serve notice on the owner of a house specifying the maximum number of persons that may occupy a house without causing overcrowding and, where the owner of a house is causing or permitting the house to be overcrowded, may require the owner to desist from causing or permitting such overcrowding within a period not exceeding twenty one days.
Any person who neglects or refuses to comply with these requirements is guilty of an offence. Overcrowding may give rise to concerns in respect of fire safety, and may lead to enforcement action by fire authorities. Situations of overcrowding should be reported to the relevant local authority.
