Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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144. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the most recent figures for cases of evictions in County Waterford; the action he is taking to prevent families from losing their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4956/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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On 13 December 2016, Government approved the publication of a Strategy for the Rental Sector, which delivers on a commitment made under Pillar 4 of Rebuilding Ireland.The strategy is structured around 4 key areas: security, standards, supply and services. The measures under these four headings will be implemented through the 29 actions contained in the Strategy.

One of the measures contained in the Strategy is the introduction of a Rent Predictability Measure. This is a new provision that will moderate the rise in rents in the parts of the country where rents are highest and rising fastest. In these areas, called Rent Pressure Zones, rents will only be able to rise by a maximum of 4% annually. The rent predictability measure addresses the major threat to tenant security. Where tenants cannot afford their rents, their tenancies are not secure and evictions for non-payment of rent may ensue.

The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 introduced the Rent Predictability Measure with effect from 24 December 2016. This measure was applied immediately to Dublin and Cork city because they already meet the criteria for a Rent Pressure Zone. A further 12 Local Electoral Areas were designated as Rent Pressure Zones on 27 January 2017.

The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 also gives effect to other actions to address tenants’ security:

- The abolition of a landlord’s right, during the first 6 months of a further Part 4 tenancy, to end that tenancy for no stated ground;

- The extension of the term of Part 4 tenancies from 4 to 6 years;

- Where a landlord proposes to sell 10 or more units within a single development at the same time, the sale will be subject to the existing tenants remaining in situ, other than in exceptional circumstances.

My Department does not hold or collate figures on cases of evictions in the private rented sector.