Housing Standards
South Dublin County Council is dedicated to improving the living standards of tenants in private rented housing in the South Dublin County Council area. This is done through the inspection of private rented properties. These inspections are carried out on a proactive basis and in response to complaints from members of the public.
Landlords
Your landlord has a legal obligation to make sure that your home meets certain minimum physical standards. In general, the standards apply to dwellings rented from private landlords, local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies. However, they do not apply to communal housing being let by the HSE or an Approved Housing Body.
Your landlord has a legal obligation to make sure that your home meets certain minimum physical standards. These standards are set out in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019.
As a landlord you have a legal obligation to ensure that your rental home meets certain minimum physical standards.
In November 2021 the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage published these guidelines for Housing Authorities in implementation of minimum standards in rented accommodation.
The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) have created a helpful guide for landlords explaining the minimum standards which is available at: https://onestopshop.rtb.ie/images/uploads/general/RTB_House_Safety_leaflet.pdf
Tenants
As a tenant you must also take responsibility for the property. They are required to exercise due care when using the dwelling and the equipment in it and to promptly inform the landlord when repairs are needed. Tenants are responsible for the repair of damage, either accidental or deliberate, that is not attributable to normal use.
Approved Housing Bodies
Approved Housing Bodies must ensure that their rented properties provide tenants with a safe and healthy environment to live in and comply with the Minimum Standards. The RTB published guidance for Approved Housing Bodies on Minimum Standards for Rented Residential Accommodation on their website - AHB Minimum Standards and Fire Safety.
Recent Changes (effective 1st of May 2019)
For leases of more than 10 years: In order to encourage and incentivise landlords to offer long term leases (minimum of 10 years) and to encourage a transition to a model of longer term rental options for households, sub-section (5) of Regulation 7 was amended, such that landlords providing these longer term leases, are no longer be required to furnish such properties with white goods.
SDCC Partners on Housing Inspections
South Dublin County Council has engaged the services of Inspex Limited to carry out inspections on private rental properties throughout the county. Inspex Limited will contact landlords, tenants, and agents directly to schedule inspections on rental properties at the request of SDCC.
HSE Environmental Health Officers work with South Dublin County Council to inspect rental properties and progress enforcement against landlords not compliant with housing standards regulations.
Details of Minimum Standards
Minimum Standards include:
- The property must be free from damp and in good structural repair.
- Hot and cold water must be available to the tenant.
- Adequate heating and ventilation must be provided.
- All appliances should be in good working order.
- Electrical wiring, gas and water pipes are required to be in good repair.
- Facilities for cooking preparation, storage of food and laundry including a 4 ring hob, oven and grill, fridge and freezer or fridge freezer and microwave oven must be provided. (This is not applicable to Approved Housing Body tenancies).
- Fire blanket and fire detection and alarm systems.
- Access to refuse storage facilities.
- Where there is no access to a yard / garden, access to communal laundry facilities must be provided
- Windows that are located above a certain height are fitted with safety restrictors, in order to prevent falls.
- There is a permanently fixed heater in each bathroom/shower room and these heaters are properly ventilated and maintained.
- Each dwelling contains, where necessary, carbon monoxide detectors and alarms, which must be suitably located.
- Efforts must be made to prevent the infestation of vermin and pests.
- In multi-unit buildings, there must be a fire detection and alarm system, an emergency evacuation plan and emergency lighting in common areas. It is important that fire safety equipment is maintained.
- Information must be provided to tenants on the property, building services, appliances and their maintenance requirements.
Inspections and enforcement
South Dublin County Council is responsible for enforcing these minimum standards in the South Dublin area. In line with the Government’s 'Housing for All' plan South Dublin County Council is carrying out planned programmes of inspection to ensure South Dublin County Council achieves an annual inspection rate of 25%.
Sub-standard accommodation
If you think that your home does not comply with the standards, you should first bring the problem to your landlord’s attention, whether you are renting from a private landlord, South Dublin County Council or an Approved Housing Body.
If your problem persists please complete the Council’s online tenant complaint form and submit to South Dublin County Council rental inspections unit. A member of the Environmental Health Officer’s inspections team will contact you within 7 working days to arrange an inspection of your rental property.
Failure to comply with the minimum standards can result in penalties and prosecution. South Dublin County Council can issue Improvement Notices and Prohibition Notices to landlords who breach the minimum standards regulations. An Improvement Notice sets out the works that the landlord must carry out to remedy a breach of the regulations.
For advice and guidance tenants can avail of the services of Threshold, a nationwide charity that provides information and advice for tenant’s experiencing housing issues. Threshold has a free phone helpline 1800 454 454 for more information please visit https://www.threshold.ie/advice/dealing-with-problems-during-your-tenancy/standards-and-repairs
If the landlord does not do these works, South Dublin County Council may issue a Prohibition Notice, directing the landlord not to re-let the property until the breach of the regulations has been rectified.