Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

223. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of prosecutions taken against landlords for breaches of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 since they were enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42238/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 and specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light, fire safety and the safety of gas, oil and electrical supplies. These Regulations apply to all properties let or available for let. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the standards set down in the Regulations.

Responsibility for the enforcement of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 in the private rental sector rests with the relevant local authority.

Failure to comply with the minimum standards can result in penalties and prosecution. Local authorities can serve Improvement Notices and Prohibition Notices on landlords who breach the minimum standards regulations. An Improvement Notice sets out the works that the landlord must carry out to remedy a breach of the regulations.

The Government is committed to ensuring that a stock of high quality accommodation is available for those who live in the private rented sector. Housing for All sets a target for the inspection of 25% of all private residential tenancies. Annual data in respect of the level of inspections and enforcement actions carried out and legal actions initiated by each local authority is available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/da3fe-private-housing-market-statistics/.