Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2020
702. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans for rent pressure zones and the exemptions that exist enabling landlords to increase the rent by more than 4%; if improving the energy efficiency of a house is considered an acceptable reason for an exemption; his views on whether these exemptions need to be tightened to protect tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10054/20]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 Act provides a legal definition of ‘substantial change in the nature of rental accommodation’ to illustrate the type of works to be carried out to a rental property to qualify for an exemption from the annual rent increase restriction applicable in Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs).
Such works shall result in:
- a permanent extension increasing the floor area by 25%; or
- an improvement in the Building Energy Rating (BER) by at least 7 ratings; or
- at least 3 of the following:
a) a permanent alteration of the internal layout; b) adaptations for a person with a disability; c) a permanent increase in the number of rooms; d) an improvement in the BER by 3 or more ratings where the original BER was D1 or lower; or e) an improvement in the BER by 2 or more ratings where the original BER was C3 or higher
and the aforementioned works do not solely consist of works carried out for the purposes of compliance with the minimum standards in rented accommodation, as prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019.
The exemptions to the RPZ rent increase restriction were the subject of careful consideration and debate in the Houses of the Oireachtas during the passage of the 2019 Act .
The new legal definition has provided better tenancy protection and greater clarity for tenants, landlords, the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) and the courts. I have no plans at this time for any further changes to the exemptions to the RPZ annual rent increase restriction.
