Vol. 515 No. 3
24 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of tenants who were evicted from private rented accommodation during 1999; his estimate of the extent to which rents in the private rented sector have increased over the past three years; the action, if any, he will take to provide protection and additional rights for tenants in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6090/00]
No statistics are available to my Department on the number of evictions from private rented accommodation. However, I am aware of claims by the housing advice agency that there has been a noticeable increase in evictions in recent years.
The rights of tenants of private rented accommodation and the protections available to them are, in the first instance, governed by the terms of the lease or tenancy agreement under which the tenancy is held. These are subject to the provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Acts, which are the responsibility of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
In considering the security of tenure issue, there is a need to achieve a balance between the rights of both the tenant and the landlord in a manner that meets constitutional requirements while ensuring continued investment in the provision and maintenance of rented accommodation. This is a particularly complex and difficult issue to address. On one hand, tenants seek a measure of security, which is both understandable and desirable while, on the other, landlords seek to recover and use their properties as they see fit. Therefore, what is needed is some form of regulation that provides greater security for tenants while avoiding over-regulation, which would result in owners withdrawing their properties from the rental market. To this end, last July I established the commission on the private rented residential sector. The commission is examining the working of the landlord and tenant relationship in respect of the private rented sector and will make recommendations, including, where necessary, on legislative changes. The commission is due to report by 1 June, at which stage I will consider the measures required to implement its recommendations.
In relation to the question of rent increases over the past three years, such information is not available to my Department. However, rent increases tend to reflect the rise in house prices. As the Deputy knows, house prices have increased significantly in recent years, although, I am glad to say, the rate of increase has now begun to slow down. I do not consider it acceptable that landlords should take advantage of the current situation and increase rents just because house prices have risen.
Realistically, the housing demand level is creating pressure on both prices and rents and the only long-term solution to this problem is to balance supply and demand. The Government is acutely aware of the problem and in addition to the actions taken in recent years to help alleviate the situation, such as the integrated area plans, section 23 provisions and urban renewal schemes, the Government has committed itself under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to take specific actions to address the supply and affordability issue, including social housing. Effectively, the aim is to ensure that every household has access to affordable, secure, good quality housing appropriate to its needs.
Does it not speak volumes for the Government's and the Minister of State's lack of interest in the plight of tenants in private rented accommodation that he is not in a position to inform the House of the number of tenants who were thrown out of their accommodation by their landlords or indicate the amount by which rents have increased in the private rented sector? Does the Minister of State accept that several hundred tenants were evicted from their accommodation in 1999 by their landlords? Does he also accept that rents in the private rented sector have doubled since he assumed office almost three years ago? Does the Minister further accept that there is a total imbalance in the relationship between landlords and tenants in that sector and that Ireland is unique in Europe in that tenants are afforded little or no legal protection? When does he intend to introduce legislation to give protection to tenants who are faced each week with increases in rent or are being evicted from their accommodation and who have no security of tenure in respect of that accommodation?
It is rather strange the Deputy stated that the Government and I have no interest in protecting the rights of tenants in rented accommodation, given that this is the first Administration to establish a commission to examine—
It took the Minister of State two years to do so and the idea originated on this side of the House.
These are priority questions, confined to the Deputies who asked them. Other Members should not interrupt.
The reality is that this action has been taken and the Deputies opposite are aware that the representation on the commission is well balanced between the interests of tenants and those of landlords. I have given it a remit to report to me by 1 June, which is quite a short time, considering the very complex issues which other Governments backed away from over the years. I have said this Government will examine very carefully the recommendations that emerge from that commission, with the intention of taking whatever action is reasonable and possible to improve the situation, particularly for tenants. However, the other side of the equation must also be taken into account, that is, that landlords also have rights.
My interest in this is on the record. I have said on numerous occasions that we must get balance in the housing market. Until we do so, we will have this situation in regard to house prices, which will also be reflected in rent prices. It is not a satisfactory situation. I have taken strong action to try to deal with the issue. Until we get the output of housing units into balance with the level of demand, we can expect the market to take some advantage of the situation.
Any other measures, such as rent controls, have been shot down by our courts and are not a practical solution to this problem. I am trying to work out a way of dealing with it which is fair to both sides. I know there might be a certain amount of politicking in the kind of comments being made by Deputy Gilmore but I expect the House—
We must proceed to the next question.
We have reached the line.
I accept that is the reality but—
The Minister of State is talking it out while tenants are facing eviction.
—I am disappointed that such an experienced Deputy would make allegations which he knows to be false.
I meet people every day who are being evicted. The Minister of State is doing nothing about it.
