Rent rules and eviction of 36 families
Deputy Lawlor challenged Government claims about an eviction of 36 families and said the new rental rules were being misrepresented. The Tánaiste said the rules were not meant to affect existing tenants, existing tenancies must be respected, and he would ask the Housing Minister to respond directly.
A few days ago, the Minister, Deputy Browne, referring to the eviction of 36 families, said there had been misinformation which, he said, is insinuating that this move by the landlord is a reaction to the new rental rules. He was backed by the Taoiseach, who fobbed off Deputy Ivana Bacik on Leaders' Questions and Questions on Policy or Legislation. He said that claims by the Opposition were insinuations that this move is a reaction to the new rental rules.
A couple of hours ago, presenter Alan Corcoran on his "Morning Mix" programme on South East Radio played the audio from a doorbell camera video, which I can give to the Tánaiste, of one of these evictions being served last Friday. The agent for the landlord, armed with a batch of envelopes, declared to the tenant, "Bad news. Have you heard about the new rental rules? So, we're serving eviction notices". The tenant asks, "So, we're getting kicked out then?" The agent said:
Maybe not. It's just that the new rules are coming in on 1 March.
[...]
We think it is probably better just to sell up and get out. We're giving ourselves the option. Today we're only giving ourselves the option that we can do that. We don't know how it's going to pan out over the next fortnight. Next week, there'll be loads of radio shows and political debate [...]. We'll make the final decision probably in about ten days.
Is this how landlords in this modern, wealthy country can treat its people? Evictions are absolutely linked to the new tenancy laws introduced by this Government. Please, this has to be investigated and these tenants must be looked after in the way they deserve.
Comment on this
I thank Deputy Lawlor. I know Alan Corcoran and I will listen back to his programme and the information the Deputy has just put on the record of the House. I am sure the Minister for housing will do so as well. My starting point in this conversation is that the new rules are not meant to affect existing tenants.
Comment on this
Laws do need to be complied with by landlords and existing tenancies need to be respected. We do have oversight mechanisms in relation to anybody who breaches those rules, including the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, and other mechanisms too. It deserves a substantive reply because, clearly, this has affected quite a large number of people. I will ask that the Minister, Deputy Browne, hears the information the Deputy has.