Reform of renting rules criticised by Threshold

Housing charity Threshold today accused the Government of delaying reform of the private rented sector.

The absence of any real measures to deal with frequent and substantial rent increases and the inadequacy of the proposed four-year security of tenure time limit means that this response falls short of what is required. Threshold

The claim follows the announcement by Minister of State, Mr Bobby Molloy, of his two-year plan to reform the sector.

The Minister's plans include the establishment, on an ad hoc basis, of a Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) later this year, and the enactment of other legislation over the next two years. The PRTB will deal with disputes between tenants and landlords.

The announcement arises out of a report by the Commission on the Private Rented Residential Sector.

But Mr Kieran Murphy, Director of Threshold, said: "By proposing a two-year timeframe the Government are prepared to leave tenants in limbo until 2003 before seeing any improvements in their situation".

In a statement, Threshold said: "The absence of any real measures to deal with frequent and substantial rent increases and the inadequacy of the proposed four-year security of tenure time-limit means that this response falls short of what is required".

I am confident that the package of reforms . . . when they are brought to fruition, [will] go a long way towards achieving a better managed and more professional sector. Minister of State Bobby Molloy

The Government plans to enact legislation establishing the PRTB on a statutory basis over the next two years. Legislation will also be enacted to improve security of tenure allowing tenants who have been renting for more than six months to remain in their homes for four years unless the landlord needs to recover possession for specified reasons.

Rent levels under the plan can be no greater than the market rate and reviews can not take place more frequently than once a year, unless the accommodation changes substantially before that.

"I am confident that the package of reforms now announced on foot of the Commission's recommendations will, when they are brought to fruition, go a long way towards achieving a better managed and more professional sector with improved security of tenure for tenants and greater certainty for both landlords and tenants," Mr Molloy said.