Local Fianna Fáil General Election candidate for Dublin Southwest, Teresa Costello has called on action to be taken on landlords that don’t meet the minimum standards for private rented accommodation. Cllr Costello has said she has heard from many constituents in relation to the living standards, and she recently asked the question as to what happens if a HAP property doesn’t meet the satisfactory standards when inspected.
“At a recent council meeting, I asked the question as to what happens if a HAP property does not meet satisfactory standards when inspected and what course of action is taken. “I have heard from many of my constituents about the poor living conditions they find themselves in in private accommodation, and this is totally unacceptable.
Costello pointed out that people in her constituency pay enough within their rent every month to warrant at least the minimum standards of living conditions be met by their landlords. “Ordinary people who live in these properties pay through their teeth for rent as it is. To not be living in good enough conditions is an insult to them.
When asking the question, Costello said she was told that when minimum standards aren’t met in private accommodations as set out in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019, an improvement letter issues to the landlord detailing works to be completed within a prescribed timeframe. Both the Council and the Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) actively work with landlords with the aim of achieving compliance.
Failure by the landlord to complete the required works may result in escalation to enforcement proceedings. These include the following:
- Improvement Notice: On recommendation by the EHO, an improvement notice may be served by the Council
- Prohibition Notice: On recommendation by the EHO, where a landlord fails to comply with an improvement notice, the Council may serve a prohibition notice.
- Legal Proceedings: On recommendation by the EHO, the Council may consider initiating legal proceedings where a landlord fails to comply with an improvement notice or re-lets a property in breach of a prohibition notice.
Costello concluded: “We must protect the renters’ rights, and landlords must provide tenants with the living conditions that they are entitled to. It is a minimum requirement when you are letting a property, and when the tenants are paying significant rent.
