Focus Ireland welcomes Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) investigation into forcible removal of tenants in Dublin

Focus Ireland has welcomed the fact that the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) is actively investigating in relation to the Mountjoy Square property where tenants were forcibly removed by their landlord in breach of legislation yesterday.

However, the shocking incident will serve to make all tenants in the private rented sector feel more insecure in their homes, unless they see clear and determined action taken to uphold the rights of the tenants and to sanction this landlord.

“Sunday’s events at Mountjoy Square, the removal of five young people by a landlord and others is a shocking insight the contempt which a minority of landlords have for the rights of tenants in our private rental market in 2018”, said Focus Ireland Director of Advocacy, Mike Allen.

“The landlord in Sunday’s case, Paul Howard, had in December attempted to evict tenants at the Dublin 1 property. The previous month, Mr Howard had sought a rent increase beyond the 4 per cent permitted in a designated rent pressure zone. During 2016 and 2017 the landlord in this case was ordered on four occasions to pay varying amounts to former tenants, for retaining their deposits and unlawfully terminating tenancies. These orders total €15,094”, said Mr Allen.

The RTB obtained a High Court injunction on December 20th preventing Mr Howard from entering the apartment until the RTB process, including any appeal to the Residency Tribunal, was complete. The case came before the RTB on January 9th and 11th, resulting in a monetary award to the tenants.

“There is a law to say that property must meet certain minimum legal standards to be fit to be rented out, there is a clear case for introducing a provision that individuals are not fit to hold the role of landlord where they are in flagrant contempt of the law and their tenants. Perhaps, this is something which the Minister should explore”, said Mr. Allen.

“Individuals in other professions operate in a climate where Fitness to Practise is a possibility if their conduct is unbecoming, but when it comes to landlords who are ‘rogue’ in their work; they are not barred from practising as landlords.

“The landlord in this case has had a number of negative findings against him at the Residential Tenancies Board, would a nurse or teacher against whom repeated negative professional findings were found be allowed to continue to operate in their field?

“We believe that the vast majority of landlords who were appalled by these actions as we were would welcome this measure as protecting their good name.”

The shocking incident at Mountjoy Square underlines the Focus Ireland call for greater protection for tenants across the country.

As it stands there is nothing to stop landlords claiming that they will sell up and evict their tenants in order to push rents up. This is something which Focus Ireland staff hears from our customers on a regular basis as the housing crisis deepens.

Mr. Allen added: “Some rents in some parts of Dublin have now risen by 90% from their lowest levels in 2011. While the Rent Pressure Zones have helped curtail rent increases for some sitting tenants there are so many loopholes in the legislation it is still far too easy for landlords to ignore.”

ENDS 

Media Contacts

Mike Allen, Director of Advocacy, 0872305869

Alan Neary, Communications Officer, 0864680442