Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 11, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following:"9. The Minister may by regulations prepare a code of conduct on the management of rent arrears by housing authorities.".

This amendment relates to the issues raised by Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan in amendment No. 3. When the general scheme of the Bill was being drafted, it was put to me by the Northside Community Law Centre in my constituency that a statutory basis for a code of conduct along the same lines as that enjoyed by tenants in Northern Ireland would be advantageous. The code in the North is voluntary and covers rent arrears and other situations in which tenancies may be endangered. The Minister of State might point to Part 2 of the Bill, under which indications can be given to people regarding the conduct of their tenancies, and there are induction meetings for new tenants in the two local authority areas with which I am most familiar, namely, Dublin city and Fingal, but there is merit in the proposal that the Minister's office have a specific power to establish a code of conduct to which all local authorities would have to adhere and that would serve as a basis for the provision of information and support for tenants.

As mentioned during the debate on previous amendments, many householders in Dublin city who fall into rent arrears cannot be considered for transfers. They must have clear rent accounts for six months. There are major consequences if one is in breach of any aspect of one's basic tenancy agreement. A code of conduct on rent arrears would allow for the adoption of a consistent national approach.

As I mentioned on Second Stage and has been stated by other Deputies, another lacuna in the Bill is in the management of rent arrears by voluntary housing bodies. That the voluntary housing sector still does not have a modern legislative basis is a significant problem for tenants. Many Deputies, particularly those representing Dublin city and Fingal, have encountered instances of greatly varying behaviour on the part of voluntary housing bodies in their management of tenants in rent arrears or experiencing other difficulties. A submission was made on this matter when the general scheme was being drafted. This issue might be considered.

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