COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE 1

Monday, February 19, 2007

QUESTION 10

QUESTION: Councillor M. Corr

 "To ask the Manager to outline to what extent information is freely available to Councillors as a result of the implementation of the the RAS scheme in this Council vis a vis the numbers of private rented houses in particular estates in Tallaght for example, compliance of Landlords to register tenancies with the PRTB, payment of taxpayers money ie Rental Supplement to landlords who are not registered etc?"

 REPLY

Landlords of private rented properties must register details of their tenacies within one month with the Private Residential Tenancies Board which was established under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004.  The Board will use the registration data for its information provision function (primarily to Revenue and Local Authorities) and for resolving certain types of disputes. 

An extract from the register is available to the public which gives details relating to the property but does not disclose information which might identify the landlord or the tenant.  Details regarding the rent are not disclosed in the extract.  The PRTB will take action in the event of a tenancy not being registered or in the case of a complaint being received in respect of a property and/or tenant/s.

In the case of a landlord joining the Rental Accommmodation Scheme the following requirements must be met before the contract can commence:

Proof of registration with the PRTB, production of a tax clearance certificate and an inspection report to establish that the property meets the minimum standards.

Accordingly,over time RAS will drive tenancy registration,tax compliance and improved standards.With regard to those landlords who refuse to put their properties into RAS and who are neither tax compliant nor tenancy registered, their details will be passed to both the Revenue Commissioners and the PRTB. Furthermore a new, formal end of year reporting arrangement has been put in place whereby a comprehensive list of RAS landlords and their annual rent receippts will be sent to the Revenue Commissioners every January in respect of the previous year.

Informal reporting arrangements will also be used to inform both authorities of landlords who are in receipt of Rent Suppklement and are neither tax compliant nor tenancy registered.

The RAS unit has been of assistance to councillors and resident associations in particular cases concerning these issues.