Private landlords ‘leave schemes if pressured to meet standards’

If private landlords are pushed to bring their properties up to standard, they sometimes pull out of HAP or RAS or such schemes, members of Westmeath County Council were advised at their March meeting.

Cllr Paul Hogan questioned the length of time between inspections under the Private Rental Tenancy Board and works being carried out.

Mark Keaveney, senior executive, said most of the inspections uncover minor failings that can be easily rectified. With more serious issues, the landlord is usually given six weeks to three months to do the work.

He said that in the last year or so, they have had a number of incidents where, when they pushed the landlords strongly, they pulled out of these schemes. Some cases will, however, be progressed to the next stage of the legal process, he added.

The meeting was told that 224 dwellings have been inspected, 189 non-compliance letters were issued and 58 dwellings became compliant, to date this year. No improvement notices or prohibition notices have issued to date this year.