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Higher Standards for Rented Accommodation & stronger enforcement powers for Local Authorities

02/12/09

Local authorities have today been given stronger enforcement powers to better enable them to ensure that private rented accommodation complies with much tighter minimum standards regulations. In addition, proper maintenance of the external appearance of rented property has been specified as a requirement of those regulations.
Michael Finneran T.D., Minister for Housing and Local Services, today (1/12/2009) announced the coming into effect of the final elements of the package of measures approved by the Government last year to improve standards in rental accommodation. “With the commencement of provisions in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, the Government has now fully delivered on its commitment in Towards 2016, the programme for Government, to update the minimum standards regulations for the private rented sector”, said the Minister.
The first element of the package, the updating of the minimum standards, was given effect by regulations on 1 February 2009. The provisions now being commenced give stronger sanctioning powers to housing authorities and introduce a clearer and stronger definition of what constitutes a “proper state of structural repair”. This will help housing authorities to successfully prosecute landlords where they find substandard accommodation.
Minister Finneran is particularly pleased that the new legislation addresses the external appearance of rented accommodation, including gardens.  “I find it unacceptable”, he said, “that in many areas the rented properties are obvious by their poorly-kept façade. This new legislation specifies that the general responsibility for the external appearance of rental accommodation lies with the landlord and gives housing authorities enforceable grounds on which to deal with landlords in this regard”.
Minister Finneran acknowledged the ongoing improvements in private rented accommodation inspections by almost all housing authorities but emphasised the importance of targeted inspections programmes. “Enforcement remains key to the success of the Regulations and to eliminating sub-standard accommodation from the rental sector”, he said.
The newly-strengthened sanctions regime provides for the issue by housing authorities of Improvement Notices and Prohibition Notices on foot of breaches by landlords of the minimum standards regulations. An Improvement Notice will set out for landlords the works they must carry out to remedy any breach of the regulations and, where an Improvement Notice is not complied with, a housing authority may issue a Prohibition Notice. This notice will direct the landlord not to re-let a property until the breach of the regulations has been rectified.
The Minister concluded “The majority of landlords take their responsibilities seriously and strive to comply with the regulations; this legislation will enable housing authorities to deal quickly and decisively with that small minority of landlords who continue to ignore the minimum standards legislation and give the entire sector a bad name”.
ENDS


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