Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 February 2023
94. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the measures in place to prevent homelessness outside of the current moratorium on certain notices to quit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7635/23]
View answerThe aim of the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 is to afford time for housing supply to increase and to reduce the burden on homelessness services and the pressure on tenants and the residential tenancies market. To assist in managing demands on housing services after the winter emergency period and ensure that there is no cliff edge impact on 1 April, the Act provides for deferred Notices of Termination to take effect on a phased basis over the period from 1 April to 18 June 2023.
As a further measure, I have also written to local authority Chief Executives, informing them of my decision to continue the delegated sanction to purchase homes where the tenant is at risk of homelessness, for the duration of the winter emergency period and up to the end of the transition period in June 2023.
I have introduced additional measures to increase supply, including the new voids programme with an emphasis on quick turnaround and re-letting and the pilot expansion of the Repair and Leasing scheme. I also want to make it abundantly clear that there are no impediments, from my Department’s point of view, to the acquisition of homes with HAP or RAS tenants in situ and I have strongly advised the Local Authorities to be proactive in this regard.
To enhance security of tenure for tenants, all new tenancies created on or after 11 June 2022 will become tenancies of unlimited duration once the tenancy has lasted more than six months and no valid notice of termination has been served on the tenant. A landlord may also consent to an existing tenancy being treated as of unlimited duration. The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 continues to provide that a landlord may validly terminate a tenancy on limited grounds.From 6 July 2022, Part 11 of the Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 amends the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 to:
- Extend notice periods, by approximately two months, to be given to tenants when serving a notice of termination (where there has been no breach of tenant obligations) in tenancies of less than three years duration;
- Improve procedures where a landlord is required to make an offer of re-let;
- Require landlords to copy the RTB when serving a notice of termination; and
- Increase from 28 days to 90 days, the period from the date of receipt of a ‘no fault’ NOT for a tenant to submit a dispute as to the NOT’s validity to the RTB for resolution.
Local authorities already oversee a range of homeless prevention and tenancy sustainment measures. Many of these services, including those operated on behalf of local authorities by NGOs, are funded by my Department, including Threshold’s Tenancy Protection Service. This service has been instrumental in preventing homelessness in the first instance and supporting people to remain in their homes.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) discretion rate has been increased to 35% and the couple’s rate has now been expanded to single persons for new tenancies. This will secure more tenancies and prevent new entries into homelessness. Local authorities are prioritising tenancy support services, prevention and the use of the Placefinder service for HAP tenancies.
In line with a commitment in Housing for All, the National Homeless Action Committee (NHAC) was established in December 2021 to ensure that a renewed emphasis is brought to collaborating across Government to implement actions in Housing for All, along with bringing better coherence and coordination of homeless-related services in delivering policy measures and actions to address homelessness.
In Q2 2022, a number of subgroups were established under NHAC to specifically examine particular issues relating to homelessness prevention. One of these subgroups was tasked with considering ‘Housing for All’ action 3.16 “enhance family support and prevention and early intervention services for children and their families through a multi-agency and coordinated approach”. This subgroup made their final recommendations at the Q4 NHAC meeting. These recommendations are now being reviewed by my Department. Furthermore, I published the Youth Homeless Strategy on 9 November 2022 that sets out 27 distinct actions to prevent young people entering homelessness.
Ultimately, increased supply across all tenures is key to eradicating homelessness. Housing supply is increasing under Housing for All. Record State investment of €4.5bn will be made available in 2023 to support the vastly expanded State home building programme, with 9,100 direct build social homes and 5,500 affordable homes.
