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Rental Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 June 2021

Thursday, 24 June 2021

Questions (78)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

78. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action he plans to take to support renters outside of rent pressure zones in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33890/21]

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Written answers

The Government is committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing solutions are available to everyone in Irish society and supporting renters is a key component of that. The Affordable Housing Bill 2020 will ensure that affordability is put at the heart of the housing system and will underpin the new local authority led scheme of affordable homes for purchase, an Affordable Purchase Shared Equity Scheme (private lands) and, for renters in Co. Galway and all over Ireland, the introduction of a new national Cost Rental scheme.

This year will also see the first ever cost rental units, more than 400 units, built and occupied in the State. Cost rental is targeted at moderate income households where the rent charged only covers the cost of provision of homes. The Land Development Agency will be put on a statutory footing and given capital to ramp up cost rental provision to the scale needed in counties such as Galway. 

The Government has, and continues to, put in place enhanced legislative protections for renters during the pandemic. There are targeted protections for renters with evictions bans in place during periods of restricted movement and protections for renters whose income has been impacted by the pandemic.

Building on the urgent Covid-19 rental measures to date, the Government plans through the Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021 to  extend by a further 6 months until 12 January 2022,  the targeted protections under the Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Act 2020 for those tenants whose income has been impacted by Covid-19 resulting in rent arrears and the risk of tenancy termination.

Low-income tenants are disproportionately employed in sectors that have been severely affected by Covid-19 restrictions. Significant State income supports are available to assist tenants to pay their rent including changes to the Rent Supplement eligibility rules for tenants whose income has been reduced because of Covid-19.

For any tenants impacted by rent arrears, my Department has published a guidance document, Part 3 (Residential Tenancies) of the Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Act 2020 - Guidance for Landlords and Tenants, which sets out the enhanced rental protections for tenants and landlords dealing with rent arrears that succeeded those provided under the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020, and provides details on the income and other supports available to tenants and landlords.  The document is available on the RTB's website - www.rtb.ie .

The 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 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.

On 1 July 2019, the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 expanded the role of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to investigate and sanction landlords who engage in certain breaches of the law, defined in the Schedule 2 of the Residential Tenancies Acts as Improper Conduct. The breaches of rental law that the Investigations & Sanctions (I&S) unit of the RTB can investigate include: failure to comply with RPZ requirements; failure to register a tenancy; a reason given on a notice of termination that is known to be false or misleading; and failure to offer a tenant their tenancy back when certain conditions have been met. The RTB also has the power to impose sanctions if improper conduct by a landlord is found to have occurred, ranging from a formal written caution and/or a fine of up to €15,000 and/or costs up to €15,000.

The Programme for Government - 'Our Shared Future', commits to improve the security of tenure for tenants, through legislating for tenancies of indefinite duration, increasing Residential Tenancies Board enforcement and examining incentives for long-term leasing.

The Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2020 also includes provision to restrict the amount of money required to be paid as any advance rent payment and/or a deposit to secure a tenancy and limits regular advance rent payment to cover no more than 1 month's rent.

My Department, the Housing Agency and the RTB keep the operation of the rental market and the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 under constant review and any necessary legislation will be progressed without delay to help provide long term security of tenure for tenants at affordable rents.

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