Question to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government:
To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the protections in place to ensure security of tenure for tenants under the rental accommodation scheme; if there are any obligations on landlords to provide properties for at least a set minimum period under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– Jerry Buttimer.
For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 20th February, 2013.
Ref No: 9195/13
REPLY
Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (Ms. J. O’Sullivan):
Under the Rental Accommodation Scheme local authorities enter into contractual arrangements on behalf of tenants with accommodation providers, primarily in the private rented sector, to secure medium to long-term availability of rented accommodation. The lease on these units can vary from 1 year to over 10 years. The duration of any contract is determined primarily by the housing needs of the authority and those of the prospective landlord.
Accommodation provided under the Rental Accommodation Scheme is governed by the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, as amended. Tenants have security of tenure for so long as the contract negotiated between the landlord and local authority remains in place. A landlord can however terminate the agreement entered into where particular circumstances prevail, if for example they wish to sell their rented property or where an ti-social behaviour is an issue. Equally an authority may terminate an agreement where it considers a landlord has bre ached the terms of the contract , for example where the landlord has failed or refused to carry out essential repairs or improvements to the property. Termination by either party would be subject to compliance with the provisions of the 2004 Act and the terms of the RAS agreement.