Castlebar Fine Gael town councillor Noreen Heston has warmly welcomed the publication by Minister Jan O’Sullivan of legislation to reform landlord and tenant law.
Cllr Heston says that the new legislation, which includes provision for greater use of mediation as a key to dispute resolution, represents a significant reform of the residential tenant-landlord regulatory environment.
“Minister O’Sullivan predicts that the new legislation will be a first step in a process that will see statutory regulation of the voluntary and co-operative housing sector in the coming years. This is critical because voluntary and co-operative housing is playing an increasingly important role in social housing,” said Cllr Heston.
“The Minister has also indicated that she is determined to legislate for two issues that presently cause much worry and stress to both tenants and landlords: Illegal retention of tenants’ deposits by landlords, and non-payment of rent by tenants who remain in situ. I commend her for her initiative and courage in addressing these issues.”
