Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
656. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of formal complaints made to the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Body to date; the broad nature, subject matter of the complaints; the actions taken by the Body in relation to each complaint; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43884/22]
View answerAs provided for in the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019 (the Act), the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) was formally established on 1 February 2021. AHBRA is an independent body tasked with the regulation of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the purposes of protecting housing assets provided or managed by such bodies.
The register of AHBs previously managed by my Department was officially transferred to AHBRA on 1 January 2022.
All AHBs are required to adopt the standards for AHBs that are provided for in the 2019 Act and were developed in conjunction with the sector. I approved the standards earlier this year and they are available on AHBRA’s website (www.ahbregulator.ie). The standards cover matters relating to corporate governance; financial management and reporting; property and asset management; and tenancy management. The Regulator will monitor compliance by AHBs with the approved standards and has the power to carry out a standards assessment to determine if an AHB is complying or failing to comply with the standards.
The remaining sections of the Act were commenced on 1 July 2022. AHBRA may now monitor and assess AHBs against the published standards and can require compliance plans to be established and implemented for AHBs failing these assessments. The Act further provides AHBRA with the power to appoint inspectors to investigate and report on the affairs of an AHB.
While the regulator is independent in the performance of their functions, AHBRA have indicated that to date in 2022, they have received 4 complaints related to AHBs. These were related to governance, tenancy and asset management matters. All complaints are evaluated and reviewed by AHBRA following due process. One matter is closed, with three ongoing. Complaints can be submitted to AHBRA via email to concerns@ahbregulator.ie
