Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 October 2018
322. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if local authorities are prevented or not permitted to carry out inspections of rental properties identified for HAP prior to HAP approval being granted. [44103/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not the case that local authorities are prevented from carrying out inspections of rental properties identified for HAP, prior to HAP approval being granted. Under Section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992, a Local Authority has the power to inspect any property that is let or available to let.
The Strategy for the Rental Sector, published in December 2016, set out a series of measures to be introduced to ensure the quality of private rental accommodation by strengthening the applicable standards and improving the inspection and enforcement systems. The Strategy recognises the need for additional resources to be provided to local authorities to aid increased inspections of properties and ensure greater compliance with the Regulations. Provision has been made for an additional €2.5 million funding in 2018, with the intention of providing further increases each year in the period to 2021 to facilitate a targeted inspection coverage of 25% of rental properties annually.
Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017. The purpose of the regulations is to provide a basic standard for decent, safe and secure accommodation. The Regulations focus on tenant safety and include new measures covering heating appliances, carbon monoxide and window safety. With very limited exemptions, these apply to local authority and voluntary housing units as well as private rented residential accommodation.
All landlords, including those in receipt of Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations and responsibility for the enforcement of the regulations rests with the relevant local authority.
HAP is underpinned by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. Under section 41 of the 2014 Act, local authorities are required to commence the inspection process within 8 months of the commencement of HAP support being provided in relation to a particular dwelling, if the dwelling was not already inspected within the previous 12 months.
The Guide to Minimum Standards in Rented Accommodation is available on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/private-rented-housing/inspections/minimum-standards-rented-accommodation.
