COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 13, 2017

QUESTION NO.23

QUESTION: Councillor D. O'Donovan

To ask the Manager what steps SDCC are taking to tackle the problem of rogue landlords changing the use of rented homes into multi-occupancy residences, leaving tenants with little or no protections and living in sub-standard accommodation?

REPLY:

Minimum standards are set out in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008 and the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2009. These regulations specify requirements in relation to a range of matters such as structural repair, absence of damp and rot, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, light and safety of gas and electrical supply. Full details are available on the Department’s website www.environ.ie.

All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations and Local Authorities are responsible for the enforcement of the regulations.

All rental accommodation must be maintained in a proper state of structural repair. This means that the dwelling must be essentially sound, internally and externally, with roof, roofing tiles and slates, windows, floors, ceilings, walls, stairs, doors, skirting boards, fascia, tiles on any floor, ceiling and wall, gutters, down pipes, fittings, furnishings, gardens and common areas maintained in good condition and repair and not defective due to dampness or otherwise.

The Council through the Clerk of Works and Environmental Health Officers carry out regular inspections of rented properties. In 2016 a total number of 1534 insppections were carried out. Where dwellings fail some of the requirements of the Regulations, the landlord is written to by the Council and requested to confirm that they have made the necessary alterations required so that the dwelling meets the necessary standard. It should be noted that NOAC have reported that South Dublin County Council is one of the top performing Local Authorities in the area of Private Rented inspections. 

In some cases Improvement Notices are served on the landlord , requiring him / her to carry out certain works to bring the dwelling up to standard. During inspections any issues that appear out of the ordianry are reported.