Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to speak on this Bill tonight and to support it. The key focus is on notices to quit and the sale of properties. There are numerous instances all over the country of people who have been renting properties for a lengthy period who are receiving notices to quit in the post because the property is being sold, often to a vulture fund. They are given one month's notice but cannot find anywhere else to go. That is happening all over the place and we are all aware of it. We are meeting people every day who are in such situations and this Bill is a clear attempt to deal with the issue in the absence of any Government attempt to address it.

I would have some reservations about the provisions around compensation but they can be teased out further. Renovation as a grounds for termination is being used by many landlords as a means of getting rid of tenants who are paying rent at levels that were acceptable four or five years ago. I came across a case recently involving a couple in Dublin who were renting a one bedroom apartment for just over €1,200 per month. They were told that the apartment was being renovated and that they would have to move out. Within a week the apartment was back on the market for €1,650 per month. That is happening all over the country and is having a very negative effect on so many peoples' lives.

The housing assistance payment, HAP, has also been mentioned here. The rates under the HAP scheme are highly problematic. In County Leitrim, for example, a couple with two children or a couple with six children seeking to rent a home will get no more than €500 per month but in Carrick-on-Shannon one will not rent a three or four bedroom house for less than €700 per month. This must be addressed. Many landlords are evicting people because they have the opportunity to get much higher rents from tenants who are not in receipt of HAP payments.

A lot of the housing stock that is being built and provided, particularly in Dublin city, is for high flyers who can afford high rents. Properties are being provided for the people who are working in Google, Facebook and Apple and not for those who need housing at an affordable price. I commend the Bill and recommend it to the House.

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