Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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533. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will introduce regulations to enable the reintroduction of bedsits into the rental housing stock, to alleviate the housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41326/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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New standards for rented dwellings were provided for in Regulations made in 2008, which came into effect generally on 1 February 2009 but allowed a generous four year phasing-in period to facilitate any improvement works that needed to be carried out in respect of Articles 6, 7 and 8. Landlords affected by these changes should have engaged with their tenants during this time to discuss the implications of any works that needed to be carried out on their properties. The revised standards in the 2008 Regulations do not specifically target bedsits but were based on a review of minimum standards dating back to 1993 which tolerated very basic facilities such as external toilets, cold water only and having an open fireplace as the only heating source. In consultation with key stakeholders including organisations representing landlords and tenant rights, such as Threshold and the IPOA, the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008 were drafted. Minimum standards are necessary as a protection to all consumers and especially to the most vulnerable who may not be in a position to protect themselves adequately.

Census 2011 indicated that there were approximately 4,500 bed-sits across the country – the majority of which were in Dublin – accounting for 1% of households in the private rented sector. In 2012, Dublin City Council commenced an intensified inspection programme, funded by my Department, specifically targeting properties likely to be at risk of non-compliance. It found that 90 % of dwellings selected for inspection were non-compliant with the regulations on initial inspection. It is worth emphasising that 72% of the dwellings inspected were failing on fire safety grounds. By the end of March 2015, 73 % of the non-compliant properties had been brought into compliance resulting in improved standards for tenants in over 4,000 properties. Enforcement action continues against the remainder, including legal action in certain cases.

Responsibility for the enforcement of minimum standards rests with local authorities. It is important to note that the vast majority of landlords have brought their properties into line with the minimum standards.  Any remaining non-compliant bed-sits are failing on multiple grounds, including fire safety, and many are simply not fit for habitation.

The improvement in basic standards of living for those in rented accommodation brought about by the 2008 Regulations has been a success.  As a result of the regulations, many more tenants are now living in safe, healthy homes. I have no plans to amend the regulations to reduce the standards required.