Madam, - Carl O'Brien's article on new rented accommodation standards (November 19th) rightly pointed out that the existing standards are 15 years old. Last week's announcement by Government detailing some of the forthcoming standards is welcome news.
Focus Ireland, Ireland's leading housing and homeless charity made a submission to Government earlier this year outlining the changes needed to protect people living in the rental sector. We argued for a number of areas where standards needed to be improved.
We also pressed strongly for greater enforcement of any new standards.
Between 2002 and 2006, 33,644 dwellings were inspected under the existing regulations with 10,162 not meeting the legal requirements.
However, only 79 legal actions were taken by local authorities. This is scandalous.
Minister of State for Housing Michael Finneran is to be congratulated for the speedy production of the new standards.
However, they will be meaningless if local authorities are not encouraged and resourced to step up the policing of the rental sector.
Better standards and tougher enforcement are required to weed out the unscrupulous landlords and ensure people can have somewhere decent to live in the rental sector. - Yours, etc,