Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 5, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: “(f) by the insertion of the following after subsection (5B):

“(5C) A dispute between a landlord who seeks to rely on subsection (5) and a tenant as to the appropriate increase in rent following upon a substantial change in the nature of the accommodation provided under the tenancy may be referred to the Board for resolution under section 76.”.”.

A key part of this Bill is to strike a greater balance in the rights between landlords and tenants as reflected in the introduction of tenancies of indefinite duration, which is welcome. There are other measures that can be taken in this Bill to bring about a greater balance in the power and control between landlords and tenants. That is reflected in a number of our amendments, particularly in amendment No. 5. In the event where there is a dispute about the grounds for a rent increase, there should be a ground whereby the tenant can bring his or her dispute to the Residential Tenancies Board. As my colleague Senator Moynihan and I see it, there are very narrow grounds upon which a tenant can bring a dispute to the board.We need to look at that and broaden it. We need to allow greater recourse to the RTB for tenants and, in this particular instance, where there is a dispute about the nature of a rent increase. I look for the support of the Minister of State on that.