Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 130, 135 and 136 together.

I am committed to developing a real and meaningful strategy for the rental sector to enable it to develop to its full potential. Ensuring quality accommodation standards in the sector is an integral part of this process.

Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, as amended by the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2009, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. The Regulations specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and safety of gas and electrical supply. With very limited exemptions, these regulations apply to local authority and voluntary housing units as well as private rented residential accommodation. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations.

Article 7 of the regulations states that each habitable room must contain a permanently fixed appliance or appliances capable of providing effective heating and that there are suitable and adequate facilities for the safe and effective removal of fumes and other products of combustion to the external air.

Article 13 provides that installations for the supply of gas shall be maintained in good repair and safe working order. There is no requirement under the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, as amended, for landlords to carry out an annual service of home heating boilers.

Responsibility for the enforcement of the regulations rests with the relevant local authority supported by a dedicated stream of funding provided from part of the proceeds of tenancy registration fees collected by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). Since the establishment of the RTB, over €32 million has been paid to local authorities to assist them in the performance of their functions under the Housing Acts, including the inspection of rented accommodation. Over 185,000 inspections have been carried out in this period.

Following the enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, local authorities have a strengthened legislative framework available to them which provides for the issuing of Improvement Notices and Prohibition Notices where landlords are in breach of their obligations. Fines for non-compliance with the regulations were also increased; the maximum fine increased from €3,000 to €5,000 and the fine for each day of a continuing offence increased from €250 to €400.

Statistics in relation to the number of inspections carried out by local authorities, the number of dwellings not meeting regulatory requirements, as well as the number of legal actions initiated can be found on my Department’s website at the following link: .

My Department does not collate statistics in relation to the reason for enforcement procedures being taken by the relevant local authority.

To ensure that the standards reflect the requirements of a modern rental market, a review of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, as amended, has been initiated. The dangers of carbon monoxide are among the issues being considered as part of the review, which will be concluded later in Autumn 2016.