Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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86. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason for ending the eviction moratorium in view of the fact that many industries such as the events, hospitality and related industries are closed and in further view of warnings from senior health officials that Covid-19 will continue to affect the country for the next several months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28232/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 provided for a temporary moratorium on tenancy terminations, other than in exceptional and limited cases, and on all increases in rent during the emergency period from 27 March to 1 August 2020. The emergency measures aimed to urgently assist in restricting the movement of people to suppress the spread of Covid-19 and applied to all tenants, irrespective of their financial circumstances.

The Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020 targets enhanced protections to the most vulnerable tenants until 10 January 2021 and respects the constitutionally protected property rights of landlords. As we learn to live with Covid-19, these provisions enable the residential rental sector to resume activity in as near as normal manner as possible.

With effect from 1 August 2020, the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020 introduced protections for those tenants who are facing rent arrears and, as a result, are at risk of losing their tenancy. If a tenant’s ability to pay rent has been impacted by Covid-19 and the tenant meets specific criteria, new procedures and protections apply. Tenants who follow these procedures cannot be required to vacate their rental accommodation before 11 January 2021, and are not required to pay any rent increase in respect of the period ending 10 January 2021.

My Department has published a guidance document, the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020: What this Means for Landlords and Tenants, which sets out exactly what is expected as the rental protections under the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 expire, and provides details on the new protections for tenants in rent arrears and the income and other supports available to tenants and landlords.

This guidance document clearly explains the new rent arrears procedure for both landlords and tenants facing rent arrears. The Guidance document is available on the Department's website - www.housing.gov.ie - and on the RTB's website - .

The RTB has engaged with stakeholders with regard to the recent tenancy protection enhancements and launched a related YouTube video. The RTB also launched targeted advertising campaigns informing the public of the enhanced protections and directing people to its website for more information. The advertising campaigns ran from 15 April until to 1 August 2020 and a mail-shot to tenants and landlords is underway since mid-September.