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Legislative Changes

 Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 (No. 22 of 2009)


This Act was signed into law on 15 July 2009.  It is an important legislative milestone in the ongoing development and implementation of housing policy and in progressing the sustainable communities agenda.  The statute establishes a framework for a more strategic approach by local authorities to the delivery and management of housing services. 

Among the measures provided for in the Act are: 

  • the adoption of housing authorities of:
    • housing services plans,
    • homelessness action plans,
    • anti-social behaviour strategies;
  • new, more objective methods of assessing need and allocating housing; and
  • a more effective management and control regime covering tenancies, rents, etc.
  • a more developed legislative basis for the provision of rented social housing by means of leasing or contract arrangements with private accommodation providers,
  • greater opportunities for home ownership by lower-income households through an incremental purchase scheme and a tenant purchase scheme for apartments. 
  • introduces an equity-based approach to the recovery of discounts granted by housing authorities to affordable housing purchasers.
     

Please find the link to the text of the Act and an Explanatory Memorandum in the Legislation box on the right.

 

The Residential Tenancies Act 2004

The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 provides for major reform of landlord/Tenant law.  The Act, which came into operation in full on 6 December 2004, provides for significant changes to the private rented sector including; a four year security of tenure measure, new procedures for the termination of tenancies, provisions relating to rents, the specification of minimum landlord and tenant obligations and the establishment of a statutory body - Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) - whose functions include the resolution of disputes arising in the sector, the operation of a new system of tenancy registration, the carrying out of research and the provision of information and policy advice in relation to the private rented sector.

This Act is the core element of the Government's overall programme to promote reform and development of the private rented sector based particularly on the report of the Commission on the Private Rented Residential Sector. 

The new tenancy registration system also replaces the 1996 registration regulations whereby landlords were required to register their tenancies with the local authorities.


For further information please see the PRTB's own website at http://www.prtb.ie/.

 

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004

Legislation was passed at the end of 2004 to enable the lending institutions to provide mortgage finance to affordable housing beneficiaries. The change paves the way for direct sale by developers of affordable housing under Part V arrangements. Both of these measures are considered important to the delivery of affordable housing.

 

 

 

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