Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
HOUSING MINISTER DARRAGH O’Brien has said he will write to the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to ask if a further extension to the rent increase and eviction ban is merited.
During a debate on a Labour motion on rent arrears, the housing minister said that the initial ban on evictions and rent hikes was to last three months.
It was then extended to 20 July.
Under the emergency laws introduced at the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, the minister said tenants cannot be forced to leave a property, and rent increases are prohibited for the duration of the crisis.
The minister said the extension of the ban requires him to consult with the health minister and public expenditure minister.
An extension of the ban can be considered if it is in the public interest to push the date out further, and if there is a threat to the public health.
Another aspect taken into consideration is if the virus remains highly contagious and if a restriction on the movement of people is still recommended.
If accepted it that it needs to be extended beyond 20 July, O’Brien will move to do so, he said.
Earlier today, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the government is considering whether the rent freeze should be extended:
“We have to take legal advice in relation to it – research has taken place into the rent arrears issue and that will inform our response in terms of people in difficulty with that situation.”
O’Brien said the research indicates that a large amount of rent arrears has not built up over the last couple of months. He encouraged those facing difficulties in paying their rent to engage with their landlords.
He said any future extension of the rent freeze and ban on evictions “will be made at the appropriate time” if it is required.
Soidarity-People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett told the minister that he does not need to consult with the health minister on the matter.
Evicting people into homelessness during a pandemic is not compatible with the public health advice.
He called on the minister to make the call today stating that people who are homeless do not have the facilities to follow the public health advice, such as regularly washing their hands.
Boyd Barrett added that placing people in hostels or family hubs is also not compatible as they are congregated settings, and should not be allowed as long the virus with us.
The minister said those in rent arrears should get in touch with the Department of Social Protection as there are supports available.
Sinn Féin called for increased publicity of the rent supplement supports that are available, stating that the majority of people are not aware of the supports available.
Should the headline not read “Minister to decide whether to increase or decrease homelessness during the worse pandemic in modern history”
@Grainne Burke: to be fair they should maybe protect tenants in general but giving a free for all long term isn’t going to work as I know my own tenants haven’t paid 80% of the rent since the lockdown…. Despite getting assistance from the government… Cos they can’t be evicted. Assume they will move out once the eviction ban is over.
Any news on giving a tenant notice to move out? Not the same as eviction.
@Customer Service Agent 1916☘️: I believe eviction and notice of termination are all on hold
@Jim Buckley Barrett: I thought that myself, I just wanted to see if others had any more info. Thanks for the reply Jim.
@Customer Service Agent 1916☘️: Landlords banned from giving notice to quit from 27/3/20. We have just had to deal with this ourselves. Landlord gave us 6 months notice to quit on 30/3/20 as he wants to sell the property but after advice from Threshold and if you look at the RTB website, this notice is invalid. He has to reissue after 20/7/20 if there is no further extension. If you were given notice to quit before 27/3/20 then your notice period is put on hold until after the ban is lifted.
@Customer Service Agent 1916☘️: yes, I have other info about pure common sense.
What is the point to ban evictions from 27 March and not earlier? Landlords gaining one or two weeks? It is totally absurd. Only put in more stress people during the lockdown
The eviction ban was announced on 19 March. Any notice with dates between 19 to 27 March were issued or
With the public information at those date, knowing they were invalid
With privileged information at those date, knowing they will be paused for three months
What’s the point to serve them then?
Win one week time in kicking out tenants?
Totally absurd decision from the government, only put in distress tenants and at the commencement of the lockdown, despicable emotional abuse against tenants in a very vulnerable situation
Don’t hold your breath. During the election FF promised to deliver affordable homes for €250k or less. Last night Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said that setting limits on price for affordable housing was ‘flawed’. That was a pretty quick u-turn!
Why does he need to consult . Its in already ,just extend it. This is a major decision for this new housing minister and seeing what direction this new government will take. Im afraid its going to be more of the same of the last few years.
@VJH: They could just say there will be a ban on evictions for those who can prove that they can’t pay rent because of losing their job to Covid. Otherwise, a blanket ban on evictions will mean landlords arent going to want to rent places out as a certain subset of chancers just won’t pay. Same for rent freeze. Long term these policies hurt renters, landlords can always just sell.
@VJH: for them to extend it, they would need to extend the state of emergency which allows them to bypass /suspend parts or all of the constitution and that’s not legal without good cause and they are saying themselves that we are coming out of the lock down for all the right reasons so hard to justify extending the state of emergency
@Damon16: can’t sell when tennant not paying can’t be evicted.
Interesting case before the High Court atm. Residents in Cork bringing a landlord to court for antisocial behaviour on the part of his tenants- mini raves, house parties, etc. But if the landlord can’t serve an eviction order how can this proceed? Similarly Stephen Donnelly of Grant Thornton receivers is being brought to court for failure to evict tenants from fire-trap residential buildings. This action is being brought by Dublin Fire Brigade. A ban on evictions could mean that these tenants die in a fire. A ban on evictions is one of those things that sound great but runs into serious practical difficulties and ultimately does not benefit tenants in the whole.
@Sean: During the emergency period, anti social behaviour is a Gardaí matter, RTB has not jurisdiction unless the parties engage in mediation. Meaning anti-social tenants face time in prison, only a judge make such decision.
Seville case is a case of landlord refusing to perform a number of times instructions from the Council. When a prohibition to rent notice is issued by the Council, the tenants liability of pay the rent finished but the right to stay remains unaltered. The landlord, or his agent, has the obligation to issue termination notices. Those termination notices give rights to the tenants, the right to back to their homes.
In other part of the World, the Seville place receiver will be in a criminal court, facing prisión, straight.
The proceedings for major failure in Building regulations compliance such as Fire and Electricity Safety, are long.
Councils seek actively the standards are brought up, there is a range of grants, loans and schemes
The works can be done with sitting tenants
The solution is not evict people, it is the Council taking up the works to bring the fire and electricity up to building regulations. And send to jail the landlord and his agent, just like any first World country
Why does Darragh O’Brien always remind of John Delaney
This clown will make Eoghan Murphy look like Willy Wonka.
Fianna Fail are the ones that privatised Social housing (giving private landlords & vulture funds >1billion per year)
Fianna Fail are the ones that ensured that private house prices went up so high that single people or couples earning between them 60k-70k couldn’t afford one.
Fianna Fail are the ones who stood over, pyrite, Shody builds (Priory hall) poor fire self regulations)
Fianna fail are the ones that had builders & developers lining their pockets in the Galway tent
and now these cute hooers are back in cabinet with the Housing brief? may God have mercy on our souls
is not everyone talking about “getting back to normal” – two, so far, headlines talking of getting back to normal… not agreeing or disagreeing but as restrictions are lifted so too must the other measures.
There has to be some relief for both tenants and Landlords. Some tenants undoubtedly will take advantage of the eviction freeze by not paying rent.
That’ll be a no then! Look who is deciding !
I’m just wondering when this rent freeze kicked in? I haven’t seen any evidence of it, in fact, this article is contrary to [at least] one which was published approximately a month ago in which it stipulated that rents are going up due to the lack of houses being built, and consequently, landlords are getting poorer and poorer by the day :(
I really REALLY feel sorry for landlords, the poor little mites, especially with all this *supposed* freezing going on – how else can parasites survive without living off the warm blood, sweat and tears of others?
The PUP has been extended to 10 August and other financial assistance to business will be beyond Christmas ….. and he needs to ask to the HSE …. seriously!?
This is an excuse to elude his responsibility, to not be accountable for an unprecedented homelessness avalanche, homelessness tsunami
In future the history books will tell, unless during the Great Famine people have a roof. Unfortunately during the Great Pandemic, the government was afraid of landlords and make a set of decision that leed to tsunami of homelessness, thousands of people died that winter in crowded Direct Provision like foreigners in their own Land, like those seeking refuge in our Land. This was made by our own
have your say