Tipperary councillor voices concern that house inspections a factor in landlords leaving HAP scheme

Concern was voiced at Tipperary County Council’s monthly meeting that high property maintenance standards required from private landlords is one of the reasons they are leaving the Housing Assistance Payment scheme in large numbers. 

Independent Cllr Máirín McGrath highlighted the case of a private landlord who left the HAP scheme after receiving a list of works to carry out on his house arising from an inspection of the property to ensure it complied with the scheme’s building standard rules. 

She said the man, who was single and aged in his 40s, was pulled up on a number of minor issues by the inspector. 

When he received the long list of works to carry out he decided to leave HAP. 

The Newcastle councillor said she knew this man to be an upstanding landlord and his tenants regarded him as top class. 

“I just think in light of the mass exodus of landlords in the housing sector, we need to have a bit of common sense in terms of houses where the tenant and landlord are in a particular house. 

Clonmel Fine Gael  Cllr John Fitzgerald, who is an auctioneer and estate agent, supported Cllr McGrath’s comments. 

He  believed the standards required from landlords in the HAP scheme was too high. 

He   knew the council’s answer would be  that they had standards to maintain but he argued   the council couldn’t always meet the required standards in its own social housing stock.

 Council’s response 

Director of Housing Services Sinead Carr said the council inspected the condition of all private and Approved Housing Bodies (AHD) properties accommodating HAP tenants.

 Indeed, any private houses registered with the Residential Tenancies Board that are up for rent, can be inspected. 

She believed the inspectors adopted a “common sense approach” when inspecting houses. 

If minor issues need to be rectified the council can work with the landlord in drawing up a plan and agreeing a time line for works to be carried out. 

Ms Carr said she didn’t believe the standard required for rental properties was a prime reason why someone gets out of the rental market. 

And she stressed it was important to have standards and that the council checks on the condition of rental properties.