Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Private Rented Accommodation Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019

Tuesday, 23 July 2019

Ceisteanna (2855, 2856, 2857)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

2855. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the target number of inspections for private rented accommodation for Dublin City Council in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31804/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

2856. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of contractors employed by Dublin City Council to carry out inspections of private rented accommodation in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the cost to outsource such work to contractors compared to council employees; the way in which the contractors’ work is monitored; the way in which regulations are enforced by contractors if they have no legal powers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31805/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

2857. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of private rented properties inspected by Dublin City Council brought into compliance after enforcement action in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31806/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2855 to 2857, inclusive, together.

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 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 2018, over €39 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 258,000 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.

The targets agreed for Dublin City Council for 2018 and 2019 are as follows:

Targets

2018 (10%)

2019 (15%)

7,481

11,221

Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. Details in relation to the number of contractors employed by Dublin City Council to carry out inspections of private rented accommodation and the associated costs are not available in my Department.

Detailed information in relation to inspections carried out by each local authority since 2005 is available on my Department's website at the following link:

http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-building-and-private-rented/private-housing-market-statistics.

Barr
Roinn