Responsibility for the registration of landlords with local authorities is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government. From 1 May 1996 regulations oblige the local authorities to compile a register of landlords in their respective areas. However, I understand that only a minority of landlords are registered.
The supplementary welfare allowance – SWA – scheme provides for a weekly or monthly supplement to be paid in respect of rent to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. At any given time, there are some 41,000 tenants in receipt of a rent supplement. Under the legislation governing SWA, the health boards are not required to ensure compliance with registration requirements before awarding a rent supplement. It would be invidious to discriminate against the tenant or to confine or restrict their freedom of choice regarding the accommodation or where they choose to reside on the basis of the failure of a third party – the landlord – to comply with his or her obligations.
The report of an interdepartmental committee set up to consider the implications of transferring the administration of SWA rent supplements to the local authorities was published in August 1999. That report points out that restricting rent supplements to accommodation that is registered would impact adversely on the availability of accommodation for rent supplement claimants.
It has been recommended and agreed however, that the restriction of rent supplements to accommodation that is registered and complies fully with regulatory standards should be set as a policy objective to be achieved as soon as is practicable.
Consideration will be given to incorporating this feature in the new scheme of rent assistance which will be operated by the local authorities, as announced by the Government last August.