Written Answers - Local Authority Housing. Wednesday, 22 April 2009

Dáil Eireann Debate Vol. 680 No. 3 Page of 487

  565.  Deputy Michael Ring      asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government      the position regarding a lease between housing association housing schemes and its tenants (details supplied). [15115/09]

  566.  Deputy Michael Ring      asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government      the position regarding a matter between housing association housing schemes and tenants’ responsibilities (details supplied). [15116/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley):    I propose to take Questions Nos. 565 and 566 together.

I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 373, 374, 384 and 385 of 31 March 2009, setting out the position in relation to the management and maintenance of dwellings provided under the terms of voluntary housing funding schemes.

Approved housing bodies are responsible for the proper management and maintenance of dwellings provided under the terms of the funding schemes and for the operation of letting policies, the fixing of rents and compliance with all relevant statutory requirements. This includes putting appropriate tenancy agreements in place between themselves and their tenants, which set out the detailed landlord/tenant arrangements for the scheme. Matters relating to the detail of these agreements, including any arrangements for tenancy reviews or the maintenance and/or replacement of fittings and equipment, are, in the first instance, the responsibility of the parties concerned and not one in which my Department has any function.

The local authority has an overall responsibility to ensure that approved housing bodies comply with the requirements in relation to letting policy, including the requirement for prior consultation and agreement on letting policies for each new project.

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Last Updated: 07/10/2010 14:31:33

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