Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2017
625. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if SI 17 of 2017 Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) applies to management companies of apartment blocks; the standard to which a suitable fire detection and alarm system must conform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44026/17]
View answerAll properties let, or available to let, must comply with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the Regulations, including management companies where they are also landlords. Responsibility for enforcement of the Regulations rests with the relevant local authority.
Following enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, local authorities have a strengthened legislative framework available to them which provides for the issuing of Improvement Notices and Prohibition Notices, where landlords are in breach of their obligations.
Fines for non-compliance with the regulations were also increased; the maximum fine increased from €3,000 to €5,000 and the fine for each day of a continuing offence increased from €250 to €400.
On 1 July 2017, the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017 came into operation with new requirements focusing on tenant safety, including new measures covering heating appliances, carbon monoxide and window safety.
Article 10 of the Regulations sets out the Fire Safety requirements, specifically:
"10. (1) Each house shall contain a suitable self-contained fire detection and alarm system.
(2) Each house shall contain a suitably located fire blanket.
(3) Each self-contained house in a multi-unit building shall contain a suitable fire detection and alarm system and an emergency evacuation plan.
(4) A suitable fire detection and alarm system shall be provided in common areas within a multi-unit building.
(5) Emergency lighting shall be provided in all common areas within a multiunit building.
(6) Fire detection and alarm systems and emergency lighting systems required under Regulation 10(4) and 10(5) shall be maintained in accordance with current standards.
(7) In this Regulation:
“current standards” means standards produced by the National Standards Authority of Ireland for Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems in Buildings and for Emergency Lighting;”
To complement this, my Department published a detailed guidance document in August 2017 to assist local authorities with implementation of these Regulations, including details that will assist landlords in demonstrating compliance with each aspect of the Regulations, including fire safety. The guidelines can be found at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/private-rented-housing/minimum-standards/guidelines-housing-authorities-minimum-standards.
