Ms Ann-Marie O'Reilly:

It was stated earlier that there is a low inspection rate, a high failure rate and low compliance. The CSO did research in respect of the private rental sector last year on those living in HAP and RAS tenancies. Properties with the lowest BERs are highly likely not to be in great shape structurally. It is a risk. The inspection has to happen eight months into the HAP tenancy. Eight months in, sometimes later, the inspection happens and the accommodation fails the test. The landlord may not have the resources or the desire to carry out the work and it is then within their right to issue a notice of termination for sale and leave the sector. This is a problem. We have proposed an NCT in respect of housing, and IPAV has spoken in similar terms here today. We would like to see a situation where the landlord can demonstrate, prior to letting a property, that it is up to standard.

It is only when the property is up to standard that it can be rented out. As stated, people are paying good money and should have safe and good-quality homes. They should not be going into homes that are neither. That is the minimum that somebody should be able to expect.