Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2019
1587. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of enforcement of standards and rent books in 2018 of rental property inspections carried out in each local authority in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19805/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 focus on tenant safety and include new measures covering heating appliances, carbon monoxide and window safety. My Department also published a guidance document to assist and support local authorities in implementing the new Regulations.
All landlords 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.
Between 2005 and 2017, over €36 million has been paid to local authorities to assist them in the performance of their functions under the Housing Acts, including the inspection of rented accommodation. Over 229,000 inspections were carried out during this period.
The Rental 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 €4.5 million of Exchequer funding to be made available to local authorities in 2019 for this purpose, 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 at that stage.
Detailed information in relation to inspections carried out by each Local Authority since 2005 can be found on my Department's website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-building-and-private-rented/private-housing-market-statistics.
Information in relation to 2018 is currently being collated by my Department and will be available on my Department's website shortly.
