New laws for house shares?
The Magazine Road and Surrounding Areas Residents Association live near UCC, in an area that was blighted by Covid parties last year.
They say that the situation last year when parties took place during the pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for statutory regulations on the standard, management and maintenance of rented houses in multiple occupation (HMO).
A HMO is a property rented out by at least three people who are not from one household (like a family) but share facilities like the bathroom and kitchen.
In the UK and Northern Ireland, a landlord requires a licence from the local council in order to rent out a large HMO. Large HMOs have five or more tenants but small HMOs require a license in some areas, too.
The landlord has to prove that the house is fit for the number of people renting it, follows the necessary safety codes, and that he/she is 'fit and proper' to manage a house.
The residents said that in their area, “in the midst of the pandemic we have students and adults renting shared bedrooms with one bathroom or washing facility between five-eight adults”. “The current legislation in this country on the management and upkeep of rented properties is minimal, outdated and in urgent need of change to make it relevant to 2021. No tenants should be left at the mercy of the personality of the landlord,” Chairperson Catherine Clancy said.
The group have written to politicians calling for:
* The licensing of all landlords
* NCT-type test for rented properties where there is certain criteria to be checked and approved and that they are seen to be fit for purpose before they can be rented
* This licensing legislation should require landlords to be responsible for the condition of their properties, and especially health and safety and the behaviour of their tenants
* A public register of the owners or management companies of all rented properties
* New laws to give local authorities power to license HMOs and to inspect them
* That three months’ advance rent be the maximum amount a landlord can ask for
* Changes to planning laws, requiring that planning applications should be a statutory requirement for the change of use of a two or three bedroom residential property to a house with 5-10 bedrooms