Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome any legislation that makes it easier for tenants to live free of fear and in a property that meets basic standards. I welcome the legislation introduced by the Minister, but there is an untruth at the centre of a lot of the properties rented in the country. It is epitomised by an article published recently in the Irish Independentwhich stated that 19 out of every 20 private rental properties were found to be in breach of the regulations for registered tenancies. It is unacceptable to allow landlords to put out a tenant because they say they want to improve substandard accommodation. We must address that in a clearer way. There are many tenants living in substandard accommodation, but they are afraid to complain because that will change their relationship with the landlord.

If we can make it more secure for people, that is where it is at. If tenants are paying the rent, that is where it is at. If there are no antisocial behaviour issues, that is fine with me too. We should be able to ensure that people in those situations are free of fear of a landlord knocking on their door. I know of a number of families that have been told by their very kind generous landlord that in one case they want to put a pregnant woman, whose child was due in a couple of weeks, out on the road because they wanted to "improve the property". The family was in a fierce situation. In that case the family was put under serious and unacceptable stress. There must be a balance here.

I welcome the changes in the legislation. In my view the balance should be in favour of the tenant. I agree with increasing the restrictions on a landlord's ability to unnecessarily and in many cases, cruelly, put out a tenant. We talk about the fact that 86% of private landlords have only one or two houses, but in many cases those houses do not reach minimum standards. We must address that issue and ensure that once a property is let, the process is secure and the rent is fair and reasonable for the person moving in. Properties must meet minimum standards and they do not do so currently. That is an issue we must address legislatively. I support what the Minister is saying, but we need a broader debate on the harshness of some unacceptably cruel and even vicious landlords who kick pregnant women out of homes that they say they want to improve when in fact they do not, and we all know that.

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