22/09/2021

The Residential Tenancies (Tenants’ Rights) Bill 2021 introduced by Ivana Bacik Labour TD is before the Oireachtas today.    It is an opposition Bill and is expected to be blocked by the Government.

The purpose of this Bill is to make a range of amendments to the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2020, to provide for greater security of tenure and rent certainty for tenants, and to provide for other enhancements to tenants’ rights.

Provisions of Bill

• Removes the right to vacant possession when selling.
• All areas not already designated as Rent Pressure Zones to become RPZs for a three-year period.
• Removes the 6-year right to terminate introducing indefinite leases.
• All tenancies to be under the same model agreement.
• Extends the definition of landlord to include receivers.
• Provides that, the tenant is entitled, if the dwelling is let as a furnished dwelling, to opt at the same rent for occupation of the dwelling in an unfurnished state.
• Includes new definition for deposit.
• Allows for the keeping of domestic pets.
• Allow tenants to remain during substantial refurbishment unless “no reasonable measures can be taken to maintain the dwelling fit for human habitation during the refurbishment or renovation”.
• Reduces termination for family use to landlord, spouse, civil partner or child
• Allow more information on public register to include the number and duration of any previous tenancies in respect of the dwelling, the date and duration of any works of refurbishment or renovation that gave rise to a notice of termination.  The date and duration of any works causing a substantial change in the nature of the accommodation as a result of which the landlord sought to impose a rent increase, and the amount of the rent payable under the current tenancy and any previous tenancies of the dwelling.
• Provides that a landlord’s application for registration of a tenancy with the RTB must include a statement that the dwelling complies with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 137 of 2019).
• Provides that a person who fails, neglects or refuses to comply with the obligation to apply for registration of a tenancy and to update particulars is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a Class A fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both.

 

IPOA representation      RTE News https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2021/0920/1247990-cabinet-tuesday/

 

Drivetime https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22007763/

 

Newstalk – The Hard Shoulder yesterday afternoon around 5.30pm