Housing for All Policy - implications for rental market

[NoRegretsCoyote]

The main site is here, the full pdf is here.


Some key points with implications for the rental market:

RPZs for ever, and inflation-linked rents

Extended Rent Pressure Zone Protections to 2024 and rents linked to the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices.

Indefinite tenancies (not sure how this would be different from the current Part IV protections)

Introduction of indefinite tenures for rent leases.

Less tax on small landlords (maybe)

The Government will support the continued participation of small scale landlords in the rental market. The DFIN will review the
recommendations of the Working Group on the Tax and Fiscal Treatment of Landlords and other taxation measures.

Concilitation as standard for rental disputes (not sure what this means exactly)

The DHLGH will provide additional resources to the RTB to ensure that it can continue to play its part, including to facilitate early engagement to prevent disputes escalating to formal RTB dispute resolution, particularly in cases of rent arrears and where a legal tenancy termination or illegal eviction is in prospect. Mediation and conciliation help to resolve disputes at an early stage. In recognition of this, the Government intends to amend the Residential Tenancies Acts to provide for default conciliation as part of the dispute resolution process.

Deposit withholding scheme (maybe)

Deposit retention can cause
serious hardship for tenants, as many
will require the return of their deposit
in order to access alternative rental
accommodation. The Government is
committed to examining the creation of a
system of deposit retention based on best
international practice

Regulation for short-term tenancies, with RTB in charge

During the period of the pandemic, we
saw much-needed accommodation,
typically used for short-term letting
purposes, returning to the long-term
private rental sector, thereby increasing
supply in the long-term rental market
with positive impacts on rental prices.
The Government will bring forward
revised regulatory controls requiring the
registration of Short-Term and Holiday
Lets with Fáilte Ireland. This will be based
on best international practice and with
a view to ensuring the availability of
long-term residential accommodation,
balanced with the needs of the tourism
sector, as appropriate. The Residential
Tenancies Board will be tasked with an
enforcement role as part of this process.

 

[bipped]

" the Government intends to amend the Residential Tenancies Acts to provide for default conciliation as part of the dispute resolution process"

Does this mean that a mediation meeting would be compulsory?

Added:
Just read that conciliation is commonly used in the construction industry.

It's different to mediation where the solution is reached by both parties themselves and they agree to abide by it.

Conciliation is when the parties can't reach an agreement then the facilitator makes a recommendation that is binding on the parties.
A bit like a court case except it wouldnt be a judge but an RTB official deciding.

If rtb are as pro-tenant as people say, that might be another reason for more landlords to exit the rental market sooner rather than later. They wont take the risk of being locked in forever so less rentals available.