John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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1021. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the definition of the term effective in correspondence (details supplied). [12002/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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On 1 July 2017, updated regulatory standards, the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017, came into effect. These Regulations focus on tenant safety and include new measures covering heating appliances, carbon monoxide, ventilation and window safety. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the Regulations.

As set out in Regulation 6, which deals with heating facilities, "every room used, or intended for use, by the tenant of the house as a habitable room, and any bathroom, or shower-room shall contain a permanently fixed heat emitter, heat distribution system or heat producing appliance capable of providing effective heating". The Regulation also states that the operation of any such heating appliance shall be maintained in a safe condition, in good working order and good repair and be capable of being independently manageable by the tenant.

Responsibility for enforcement of the Regulations, including interpretation of wording contained within, rests with individual local authorities. It is therefore a matter for housing authorities to determine the effectiveness of appliances and compliance with the regulation requirements.

Notwithstanding this, in August 2017, my Department published a summary guidance document to assist and support local authorities in implementing the new Regulations. These guidelines are intended to assist housing authorities, not only in the practical implementation and effective enforcement of the requirements of the Regulations, but also in providing a high quality of service to both landlords and tenants. The guidelines should be used as a basis to facilitate authorities making decisions specific to their own particular local circumstances.

This Guide to Minimum Standards in Rented Accommodationis available on my Department's website at the following link: .

Under section 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, housing authorities are required to have regard to guidelines issued under section 5 in performance of their functions under the Housing Acts 1966 to 2014.