Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for not being here when the Minister of State delivered her speech as I was attending another meeting. I have read the speech and the Minister of State's comments on Second Stage of this Bill in the Dáil. As many people have indicated, this provides an opportunity to focus again on the 2004 Act, the value of the legislation and its provision of security, particularly regarding tenure for tenants. It also addressed standards, which have improved. The Minister of State has today indicated the number of people renting, which has increased considerably; from 2006 to 2011, the figure increased by approximately 29%, while on the other side of the equation private home ownership has reduced. That underlines further the need to ensure proper structures so that tenants and landlords can have a positive relationship, with a statutory support for that relationship.

The Bill's main purpose is to ensure that approved housing bodies come under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, and I am in doubt about the importance of doing that given the greater role they will play in housing policy. I have dealt with many of the housing bodies, which I know work closely with local authorities. My experience of working with them, which is limited, has been positive and they are supportive of tenants. The community units in which they are involved tend to be smaller, which works in their favour.

The PRTB, which is to be renamed the residential tenants board under the Bill, was established under the 2004 Act. It has played a strong and important role in ensuring that disputes between landlords and tenants are addressed. In many cases, a dispute can be drawn out. I want a timeframe included in the Bill in which the board should act. The Minister mentioned an increase in referrals at a time when staff numbers have reduced by 53% since 2008. That speaks for itself. Nonetheless, the Private Residential Tenancies Board is an important establishment. When cases of anti-social behaviour have been referred to the board it takes a long time to establish whether the board can deal with them, so there is room for streamlining the types of complaints that go to the board.

As has been said, not all landlords are registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board. However, Government Departments hold much information, including in Revenue and the Department of Social Protection, about who is and is not a landlord and what properties are registered. That situation could be tidied up. There are moves afoot to do that, but the last time I was involved in studying the issue there was no tie up between the two areas. I do not take data protection issues lightly, but were we able to deal with those, there is much information available that could be used.

On rent reviews and rents in excess of the market value, I welcome the positive impact that the 2004 Act has had in addressing fair procedures for determining rents. However, there is anecdotal evidence of large rent increases, particularly in the Dublin area where there is a huge demand for properties. In the current climate it will be the landlords who benefit from increasing rents because they are the ones who call the shots in a provider's market. The housing market continues to fluctuate, but rent levels are a serious concern, particularly for young people who are moving into the rental market and trying to establish a home but find themselves in a difficult market in which properties or rooms in accommodation can be taken within five minutes of being advertised on a website.