4th June 2003

PRESS RELEASE

GREENS CRITICISE RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES BILL

The Green Party has criticised the Residential Tenancies Bill, stating that it
is riddled with loopholes.

Green Party Environment spokesperson, Ciarán Cuffe TD, said today, “Although the Bill purports to give greater rights to tenants, it is riddled with escape clauses. Section 34 of the Bill provides landlords with many ways of evicting tenants, ranging from refurbishment, to sale of the premises, to a requirement for family use. For instance a landlord who owns 10 apartments could claim that he needs them all for his or her family, and therefore can instigate eviction proceedings.  This will give rise to unwarranted evictions, and we intend to amend this Bill.”

“We also want to see an end to exorbitant rent increases, and evictions at the whim of unscrupulous landlords. Sadly, the Bill does not go far enough in this regard. We want to see a properly regulated rental market as in the rest of Europe. Tenants must be given security of tenure, and there must be an end to high rent increases.”

“The Green Party's housing policy seeks a minimum of one months notice for every
five months rental period for tenants, and for rent increases to be capped at a maximum of 5% on top of inflation.  This provision must be enshrined in the Bill in order to strike the right balance between the rights of tenants and landowners,” concluded Deputy Cuffe.