Galway West TD Derek Nolan has called for a set of standards to be put in place to ensure that the exterior of rental properties across the city are maintained to an appropriate standard.
Speaking on the matter Deputy Nolan stated that “The exteriors of a small number of privately rented houses across the city are currently not up to standard, and unfortunately when the exterior of a property drops below a reasonable level, it also affects the surrounding houses in the area.
“I am asking that all relevant parties – the Department of Environment, local authorities and the Private Residents Tenancy Board as well as landlords come together to ensure that a comprehensive and workable set of guidelines can be put in place.
He went on to say that while no-one is expecting potted flowers or landscaped gardens to be rolled-out, it is important to ensure that the exterior of rented houses does not fall below the standard maintained by most owner-occupied houses in an estate.
“This could mean ensuring that houses are painted, that overgrowth is kept to a minimum and that any required repairs to gates, doors or windows are carried out in a timely fashion.
“There is no doubt that 90 per cent of landlords in Galway already adhere to these responsibilities and do so to a very high standard. I would hope that the establishment of a comprehensive list of maintenance standards would ensure that the remaining landlords who are not currently meeting these requirements would follow suit,” he concluded.
