KENNY WELCOMES EXTENSIVE REFORM OF LAWS TO PROTECT TENANTS

Posted on July 20, 2012 3:43 PM   |   Permanent Link   

Seán Kenny, the Dublin North East Labour TD and member of the Oireachtas justice committee, today welcomed the announcement of significant and extensive reforms to the laws governing the relationship between tenants and their landlords.

"The new reforms will cover tenancies in the voluntary and cooperative housing sector that are very like private tenancies. This means that tenants can now be heard at what used to be known as the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), which will now be known simply as the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). The Rent Tribunal will also now be merged with the Residential Tenancies Board. The Board will also be reduced from 15 members to 12, which I believe will result in better decisions being made and as well as that, there will be added measures to increase the take-up of mediation as a key dispute resolution mechanism."

"These reforms represent significant changes to the relationship between tenants and their landlords and make it easier for residents to seek satisfactory solutions when problems arise. The measures that promote mediation in dispute resolution are particularly welcome. I firmly believe that mediation can give people in a dispute a speedy, effective way to resolve issues. The extension of the registration requirement to a large number of voluntary housing tenancies is also a major development. It is the first step in a process that will see statutory regulation of the voluntary and co-operative housing sector in the coming years. This will bring greater transparency and accountability to this important sector that is playing an increasingly active role in social housing provision."

"I would also point out that the Programme for Government commits to the creation of a deposit protection scheme to address the issue of illegal retention of tenants' deposits. I understand that the Minister is awaiting the outcomes of research on this matter in Autumn 2012 and will, at that point, consider how best to address the research findings in the context of this Bill. I will be keeping a close eye on developments with this issue. I also understand that Minister O'Sullivan is determined to address the issue of non-payment of rent by tenants who remain in situ and she confirmed that an amendment to address the matter is currently being drafted and will be ready in time for consideration when the Bill is presented to the Oireachtas. The Bill will now go before the Dáil and Seanad, commencing in autumn 2012, and I look forward to supporting it."