Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 7, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:

“Amendment of section 12 of Act of 20046. Section 12 of the Principal Act (Obligations of landlords) is amended by inserting the following subsection:

“(6) A deposit (howsoever described, being money payable on entering into an agreement for the tenancy of a dwelling and intended to be held as security for the performance of any obligations, and the discharge of any liabilities, of the tenant under or in connection with the tenancy) shall not in any case exceed the monthly rent (or, if the rent is not payable monthly, the amount that the tenant pays in rent as calculated pro rata on a monthly basis) set under that tenancy.”.”.

The amendment speaks for itself. We are trying to ensure that a deposit does not exceed a month's rent. That was always the norm across Ireland and it is only of late that we have seen exceptional increases of up to six months. It is hard enough for people to find rental accommodation without having to face excessive deposits.