Menu
10/08/2012
Over €30m In Rent Deposits Never Paid Back To State
Over €30 million in refundable rent deposits have not been returned to the Department of Social protection.
The money has been paid out by the department since 2006 and despite being refundable at the end of a tenancy, none of the money has been returned.
It is not known if the money is being withheld by landlords or kept by the tenant after it has been handed back.
For tenants moving into new rental accommodation, deposits, usually equal to one month’s rent, generally ranging from €450 to €1,000, but sometimes above this figure, have been paid by welfare officers.
As with deposits in the private rented sector, they are repayable at the end of the tenancy if the requirements of the lease have been complied with and there are no outstanding debts owed to the landlord.
However, of the €32.3 million paid to landlords in deposits in the last six years, the department said it has no record of any money being returned.
Labour TD Kevin Humphreys said it was not acceptable that this money should be “written off” by the department. “I am shocked that over €30 million has been spent on rental deposits since 2006 and that none of that money has been recovered.”
The establishment of a deposit protection scheme, a commitment in the programme for government, would allow these deposits to be returned to the State if there were no problems with the tenancies, and this could save millions of euro, Mr Humphreys said.
“I believe that a rental deposit protection scheme run through the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) would allow these deposits to be recovered when a tenancy comes to an end, when a person moves into full private rental accommodation or other social housing schemes,” he said.
(H)
The money has been paid out by the department since 2006 and despite being refundable at the end of a tenancy, none of the money has been returned.
It is not known if the money is being withheld by landlords or kept by the tenant after it has been handed back.
For tenants moving into new rental accommodation, deposits, usually equal to one month’s rent, generally ranging from €450 to €1,000, but sometimes above this figure, have been paid by welfare officers.
As with deposits in the private rented sector, they are repayable at the end of the tenancy if the requirements of the lease have been complied with and there are no outstanding debts owed to the landlord.
However, of the €32.3 million paid to landlords in deposits in the last six years, the department said it has no record of any money being returned.
Labour TD Kevin Humphreys said it was not acceptable that this money should be “written off” by the department. “I am shocked that over €30 million has been spent on rental deposits since 2006 and that none of that money has been recovered.”
The establishment of a deposit protection scheme, a commitment in the programme for government, would allow these deposits to be returned to the State if there were no problems with the tenancies, and this could save millions of euro, Mr Humphreys said.
“I believe that a rental deposit protection scheme run through the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) would allow these deposits to be recovered when a tenancy comes to an end, when a person moves into full private rental accommodation or other social housing schemes,” he said.
(H)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
05 December 2018
Third Of Calls To Housing Charity From People Losing Their Homes
A third of calls made to national housing charity, Threshold, were from tenants faced with losing their homes. That is according to figures included in Threshold's annual report for 2017, which has been launched by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy TD.
Third Of Calls To Housing Charity From People Losing Their Homes
A third of calls made to national housing charity, Threshold, were from tenants faced with losing their homes. That is according to figures included in Threshold's annual report for 2017, which has been launched by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy TD.
07 May 2015
SF Hits Out At Govt Over Plans For Landlords To Withhold Deposits
The Government has been slammed over plans for landlords to withhold deposits from tenants if they do not pay water charges. Sinn Féin housing spokesperson, Dessie Ellis TD, said the move would cause a range of issues and increase the number of people requiring emergency accommodation.
SF Hits Out At Govt Over Plans For Landlords To Withhold Deposits
The Government has been slammed over plans for landlords to withhold deposits from tenants if they do not pay water charges. Sinn Féin housing spokesperson, Dessie Ellis TD, said the move would cause a range of issues and increase the number of people requiring emergency accommodation.
25 October 2013
ACCBank Cut 180 Staff And Give Up Banking License
One hundred and eighty jobs are to be cut at ACCBank, as it announces the closure of all its public business centres and surrendering of its banking license. ACC, which employs 470 people in Ireland, announced that it would stop providing deposit and current accounts to focus on debt recovery.
ACCBank Cut 180 Staff And Give Up Banking License
One hundred and eighty jobs are to be cut at ACCBank, as it announces the closure of all its public business centres and surrendering of its banking license. ACC, which employs 470 people in Ireland, announced that it would stop providing deposit and current accounts to focus on debt recovery.
02 September 2013
New Legislation Published To Reform School Admissions
Proposed legislation governing admission policies could see schools obligated to enrol children with learning difficulties. The new regulations, which are published today, aim to tackle concerns that the enrolment policy of some schools could see them "cherry-picking" students.
New Legislation Published To Reform School Admissions
Proposed legislation governing admission policies could see schools obligated to enrol children with learning difficulties. The new regulations, which are published today, aim to tackle concerns that the enrolment policy of some schools could see them "cherry-picking" students.
15 November 2012
Arrears Of Buy-To-Let Owners Affecting Tenants
Sheriffs are evicting tenants of buy-to-let properties when owners fall into arrears, housing charity Threshold has claimed. The charity said it is receiving two or three calls a week from desperate renters caught up in the crossfire between landlords and financial institutions. “There is a huge issue here that has to be addressed,” she warned.
Arrears Of Buy-To-Let Owners Affecting Tenants
Sheriffs are evicting tenants of buy-to-let properties when owners fall into arrears, housing charity Threshold has claimed. The charity said it is receiving two or three calls a week from desperate renters caught up in the crossfire between landlords and financial institutions. “There is a huge issue here that has to be addressed,” she warned.
-
Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
