Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
359. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review the decision to lift the temporary moratorium on no-fault evictions; and his plans to reinstate a winter eviction ban on an annual basis. [33630/23]
View answerThe Government agreed on 7 March that the ‘Winter Emergency Period’ under the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 would come to an end on 31 March 2023, with deferred tenancy terminations taking effect over a staggered period from 1 April to 18 June 2023 as planned and legislated for under that Act.
In advance of this, I considered a number of courses of action and consulted with colleagues across Government who agreed, taking account of the advices of the Office of Attorney General and our collective knowledge and interaction with the residential sector, that a focus on additional new supply was the best way forward in dealing with the end of the winter eviction ban in a manner which best protects tenants.
I have no plans to reinstate a winter eviction ban on an annual basis. However, the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 and the operation of rental market are kept under close and constant review by my Department, the Residential Tenancies Board and the Housing Agency.
As set out in the Housing for All Action Plan Update (published in November 2022), my Department has commenced a comprehensive review of the private rental sector. This review will take into account the significant regulatory changes over the past several years in the residential rental market, and will report on how our housing system can be enhanced to provide an efficient, affordable, viable, safe and secure framework for both tenants and landlords. This review will be essential in properly planning future policy for the residential rented sector including implementing measures to support both landlords and tenants.
To inform the review, my Department has a public consultation process underway. A Public Consultation Submission form went live on my Department’s website on 26 June 2023. A related stakeholder workshop took place on 6 July 2023. Following targeted stakeholder engagement, I have decided to extend the consultation period by a further two weeks to 8 August 2023. Further details are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/consultation/ea0ea-public-consultation-review-of-the-private-residential-rental-sector/ Over the coming months, my Department and I will work further with Government partners and stakeholders to put together a comprehensive new package of effective measures for both tenants and landlords.
