Section 29 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 provides for housing authorities to have a written tenancy agreement with their social housing tenants, one which complies with the requirements of Schedule 3 of the Act. Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 inserts a new section 29A into the 2009 Act, which relates to the revision of tenancy agreements.
While Sections 29 and 29A have not yet been commenced, all housing authorities already require written tenancy agreements in practice, and 1980 Regulations provide for minimum requirements for such agreements. I understand that housing authorities have generally found these adequate for their requirements.
I will be giving further consideration to the commencement of these provisions, including possibly amending Section 29 to remove the requirement for a tenancy agreement to be in a form prescribed by the Minister.