Vol. 463 No. 3
183 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment the concerns, if any, he has that new regulations which he proposes to make shortly which provide for the registration of private rented dwellings entailing payment of an annual fee for each dwelling, will mean increased rents as the fee is passed on to tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6195/96]
The Housing (Registration of Rented Houses) Regulations, 1996 provide, with effect from 1 May 1996, for the registration with local authorities of certain rented dwellings. The fee payable by the landlord is £40 per annum for each registered dwelling. The fee is designed to provide resources to local authorities to enable them to improve their enforcement of the range of statutory requirements (registration, rent books and standards) applicable to the private rented sector. The fee is an allowable expense against tax and it should directly result in little, if any, increase in rents. Overall, the new regulations should lead to improvements in the standard of rented dwellings and benefit their tenants.
