Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 November 2020
169. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of inspections of private rented accommodation carried out by Dublin City Council in 2019 and to date in 2020; the findings of those inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37573/20]
View answerThe Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and the safety of gas, oil and electrical supplies. With very limited exemptions, these apply to all private rented residential accommodation.
All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties, regardless of tenancy type, comply with these regulations. Responsibility for the enforcement of the Regulations rests with the relevant local authority.
Data in respect of inspections undertaken by Dublin City Council in 2019 and to the end of September 2020 is set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Inspections Undertaken |
Dwellings Inspected |
Dwellings Deemed Compliant on 1st Inspection |
Dwellings Deemed Non-compliant on 1st Inspection |
Dwellings Deemed Compliant by Year-end * |
|
2019 |
9,099 |
5,606 |
633 |
4,973 |
4,189 |
|
2020 to Sept 30th |
1,693 |
1,480 |
272 |
1,208 |
2,524 |
* Includes those non-compliant upon first inspection in previous year but subsequently deemed compliant
Given the need for inspectors to enter tenant’s homes, the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions have greatly reduced the number of inspections carried out this year.
In response some local authorities have been piloting virtual inspections, to supplement their on-site inspection processes. Dublin City Council have led this initiative which entails landlords receiving a checklist for self-assessment and being required to submit photographic evidence of compliance by email, tenants being invited to raise any standards related complaints they may have and being asked to confirm that any required works have been completed, and the Council reserving the right to conduct a physical inspection at a later stage. My Department is being updated on this process with a view, if appropriate, to wider adoption.
While pandemic restrictions have reduced the number of inspections carried out this year, the number of inspections conducted by Dublin City Council almost tripled in the period from 2017 to 2019, increasing from 3,550 in 2017 to 5,830 in 2018 and 9,099 in 2019. My Department provided a subvention of just over €2.05m in this period to assist the Council meet its inspection obligations.
My Department has made significant Exchequer funding available to all local authorities in recent years, with the result that the number of inspections undertaken nationally more than doubled from 19,645 in 2017 to 40,998 in 2019, with a similar increase in the number of properties becoming compliant from 3,329 to 7,206. In order to assist local authorities increase inspection rates further and strengthen compliance, an increased budget of €10m has been approved for 2021.
Detailed information in relation to inspections carried out by each local authority since 2005 is available on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-building-and-private-rented/private-housing-market-statistics
