Since 1 February 2009, properties for rent must meet minimum physical standards as outlined in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 2008. A further set of regulations, the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) (Amendment) Regulations, 2009 came into effect on 1 December 2009. The Regulations intend to improve standards in rental accommodation.
A 4-year phasing-in period for existing tenancies was allowed for some of the standards in the Regulations, including standards for sanitary facilities, heating facilities, food preparation, storage and laundry.
The phasing-in period ended on 31 January 2013 so rental properties must now meet all the standards.
For more information:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/renting_a_home/repairs_maintenance_and_minimum_physical_standards.html?tab=related
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/warning-that-more-people-will-be-made-homeless-because-of-new-landlord-laws-3375896.html
http://www.focusireland.ie/index.php/our-work-in-the-media/press-releases/716-focus-ireland-warns-new-regulations-could-put-bedsit-tenants-at-risk-of-homelessness
http://www.kildare-nationalist.ie/2013/02/04/threshold-bedsit-regulations-will-not-increase-homelessness/
http://www.landlordsolutions.ie/news/minimum-standards-for-rental-properties-the-real-cost/
http://www.politics.ie/forum/environment/200749-liveline-landlords-whinge-about-end-bedsits.html
A 4-year phasing-in period for existing tenancies was allowed for some of the standards in the Regulations, including standards for sanitary facilities, heating facilities, food preparation, storage and laundry.
The phasing-in period ended on 31 January 2013 so rental properties must now meet all the standards.
For more information:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/renting_a_home/repairs_maintenance_and_minimum_physical_standards.html?tab=related
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/warning-that-more-people-will-be-made-homeless-because-of-new-landlord-laws-3375896.html
http://www.focusireland.ie/index.php/our-work-in-the-media/press-releases/716-focus-ireland-warns-new-regulations-could-put-bedsit-tenants-at-risk-of-homelessness
http://www.kildare-nationalist.ie/2013/02/04/threshold-bedsit-regulations-will-not-increase-homelessness/
http://www.landlordsolutions.ie/news/minimum-standards-for-rental-properties-the-real-cost/
http://www.politics.ie/forum/environment/200749-liveline-landlords-whinge-about-end-bedsits.html