Written answers

Thursday, 9 March 2023

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Rental Sector

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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110. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will extend the eviction ban at the end of March; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11854/23]

Photo of Pauline TullyPauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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119. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he plans to extend the eviction ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11928/23]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 119 together.

The Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 was signed into law on 29 October 2022. This Act provided for a stay on eviction notices of certain residential tenancies that fall, or would fall, during the 'winter emergency period', beginning on 30 October 2022 and ending on 31 March 2023, with deferred tenancy terminations taking effect over a staggered period from 1 April to 18 June 2023. The Government has used the past several months to increase housing supply for those most in need. In the last Quarter of 2022, approximately 4,800 new build social housing homes were delivered, along with some 500 acquisitions, and 600 lease arrangements put in place to provide further capacity. In addition, during the period or the moratorium 1,532 local authority homes were refurbished under the voids programme and restored to use, as well as the provision of 500 emergency beds and 150 cold weather beds.

The Government and I considered a number of courses of action in advance of the ending of the winter moratorium period and believe that a focus on additional new supply is the best way forward.

On 7 March, I announced further measures to increase the supply of social homes to mitigate the impact of the end of the winter emergency period including:

- an increase in the number of social housing acquisitions to 1,500 in 2023 to reduce the number of households at risk of homelessness;

- an additional 1,000 homes through Targeted Leasing initiatives in 2023 and 2024; and

- the amendment of the Capital Advance Leasing Facility used by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to assist them in their efforts in delivering social homes.

I have also informed Government of plans to give a number of new opportunities to tenants who wish to become homeowners. These include:

- requiring a landlord selling a property to first offer it to the tenant on an independent valuation basis for sale;

- working with AHBs and local authorities to develop a bespoke ‘cost rental’ model for tenants at risk of homelessness but not on social housing supports to continue to rent their homes at existing or market rates.

Under Housing for All the Government is committed to increase supply and protect renters while trying to keep small landlords in the system. I also asked the Government to note that my Department has commenced a review of the Private Rental Sector which will inform Government on the measures which need to be taken to ensure a well-functioning private rental sector in Ireland that works for all.

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