Due to substantial water damage, a privately leased home in Dublin city experienced rainwater infiltrations in three separate rooms, meanwhile, in another dwelling, its ceiling caved in, an investigation into prohibition orders given to property owners revealed. Last year, Dublin City Council handed out 36 such warnings to property owners, whereas, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council dispensed 24.
To guarantee adherence to the guidelines set out in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019, local governing bodies examine privately rented accommodation. These regulations demand minimum standards for let properties be upheld. Noncompliance results in the issuance of an improvement notification, detailing what must be corrected. Property owners who fail to enact the necessary changes will receive a prohibition warning prohibiting them from re-leasing the property until all breaches are rectified.
The law stipulates several criteria that property owners must meet, included among them are adequate heating, lighting, and ventilation facilities, the property’s structural condition, safety regarding oil, electricity and gas installations, fire safety measures and garbage facilities.
The violation notices revealed that a few properties lacked basic amenities such as sinks, baths or showers with running water connections. For instance, a house in Dublin city received a prohibition order for a back bedroom with a “badly damaged and fallen in” ceiling.
When inspected, it showed signs of water damage; according to the tenant, this was down to a leakage from the water tank. Another privately leased apartment in the city centre was reported to have leakage problems. During a rainy day, water entered through the kitchen ceiling, causing discoloration, staining and flaking paintwork. The critique also highlighted similar issues in the bedroom and living room.
In Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, residents complained about broken heating systems for a year and a half past, alongside mouse infestations, in their rented dwellings.
In a particular block of flats, there was an accumulation of black mould in the shared spaces on the second and third floors. The lift was out of order and there was ambiguity regarding the existence of an appropriate fire detection and alert system in the multiple-occupancy building during the inspection.
The warning conveyed: “There are considerable fears regarding possible electrical and fire safety dangers in this building. This violation needs to be rectified immediately.”
Furthermore, a ban notice given to a distinct studio apartment stated: “The plaster work on the external wall of the flat was deteriorating and had holes.”