Sir, – As the housing crisis in Ireland worsens and many private property owners exit the market because of rent pressure zone caps, it is worth recognising that this is far from the only challenge facing private landlords today, and often not the most cumbersome. While there are myriad resources available to tenants, each of which serves a valuable purpose, there are none at all for private landlords, who are left at the mercy of laws and regulations that are difficult to navigate at best.
Six years ago my daughter and her son moved to the United States, and she rented the apartment she owns (her only property) at a price that is approximately half of the current market rental rate.
Now, due to circumstances beyond her control, she has to move back to Ireland and her apartment is the only accommodation available to her. She served her tenant with a notice of termination of her lease that followed all the criteria provided by the RTB in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act 2004.
Her tenant is refusing to abide by the notice of termination, and has enlisted the assistance of Threshold, which is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of Rural and Community Development, to delay or prevent her having to vacate the apartment. My daughter has been advised that it will take at least an additional six months to execute the notice of termination, which means that she and her son would be homeless for as long as it takes. She does not have the funds to rent accommodation while paying her mortgage and maintenance on the apartment she owns, leaving her no option but to sell her apartment.
While this might not be a common circumstance for private landlords, it illustrates the reality that the Government and the organisations they fund have created a situation where private landlords have no recourse but to sell their property, thus worsening the housing crisis. – Yours, etc,
ERIN MITCHELL,
St Petersburg,
Florida, US.