Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

220. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the cost of introducing a new system of inspection by an authorised person in each local authority to ensure compliance with fire safety and building regulations for all properties newly offered as private rental accommodation. [22834/17]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The aim of the Building Regulations is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings. Building Regulations apply to the construction of new buildings and to extensions and material alterations to buildings. In addition, certain parts of the Regulations apply to existing buildings where a material change of use takes place.

The Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 provide for accountability in relation to compliance with Building Regulations in the form of statutory certification of design and construction by registered construction professionals, lodgement of compliance documentation, mandatory inspections during construction and validation and registration of certificates. In effect, compliance with Building Regulations is ensured during the construction process, the statutory Certificate of Compliance on Completion certifies that a building is compliant with all relevant requirements of the Building Regulations.

However, when a property is let, or available to let, it must comply with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations. The Regulations specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, fire safety and safety of gas and electrical supply. Under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, the housing authority must have inspected and been satisfied that the property meets rental accommodation standards within 12 months prior to a HAP application or arrange to inspect the property within 8 months of HAP commencing.

The Government’s Strategy for the Rental Sector, published in December 2016, sets out a number of actions in relation to Standards with the combined aim of improving the quality and management of rental accommodation. On 27 January 2017, the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017 were made and will come into operation on 1 July 2017.

The Strategy for the Rental Sector also prioritises strengthening the inspection capacity of local authorities to increase the number and frequency of inspections of rental properties. In addition to the updated regulations, procedures for a more efficient, standardised and transparent inspection and enforcement approach across all local authority areas will be introduced.

Specific ring-fenced funding for inspection and compliance activity will be identified from 2018 onwards and annual targets for both inspection and compliance will be agreed with local authorities. The objective set out in the Strategy is to increase inspection numbers incrementally each year so that, by 2021, 25% of all rental properties are inspected annually. The additional cost to local authorities for this initiative over the period 2018 to 2021 is estimated to be in the region of €24 million.