Govt to update housing regulations

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The Minister for Housing, Noel Ahern, has announced a programme of action to update regulations governing the minimum standards for rented accommodation.

The move comes after Threshold, the national housing organisation, called on the Government to tackle what they call slum landlords by introducing a law guaranteeing minimum standards and a certification process.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio's News At One, Mr Ahern said he acknowledged that enforcement of standards had been patchy up until now, but that the Government was giving the local authorities the resources needed to improve enforcement.

Threshold's annual report for 2005 shows that appeals for help from tenants living in unfit accommodation doubled from 368 in 2004 to 785 last year.

The organisation says it is alarmed at the poor conditions endured by a growing number of callers to its advice services reporting things like a lack of hot and cold running water, mould and rat infestation.

It says the days when a single toilet on a landing is shared between four bedsits must end.

While local authorities are obliged to inspect rented properties, Threshold says some carry out none at all, leaving the poorest and most vulnerable people living in substandard accommodation because it is all they can afford.

To tackle the unacceptable conditions for private rented accommodation, the body is calling for new legislation to be introduced along with a new certification process.

Threshold Chairperson Aideen Hayden says this would be like the National Car Test for housing and would ensure all rented property is fit to live in, both in relation to minimum standards and fire safety.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0913/housing.html