THE LABOUR SENATOR who is the chair of housing charity Threshold says that a much-needed scheme to protect renters will be rolled out by the Government will be rolled out in the coming months.

Aideen Hayden told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that many landlords are withholding deposits and are either unwilling or unable to carry out repairs.

“There is a certain cohort of landlords who cannot afford to carry out repairs, but there are an awful lot of landlords whose properties were bought and paid for many years ago and who are profiteering out of the situation.”

Hayden said that local authorities should be doing more. She said that 40 per cent of authorities were not carrying out inspections on private rental accommodation.

She said that there was evidence that local authorities were to blame for sub-standard accommodation.

Hayden went on to say that the issue of landlords holding on to deposits is still the biggest issue, but that a certification process was needed.

“The Government has committed to rolling out a deposit guarantee scheme in the coming months and that is most important.

“Given that the Government have taken that on board, I’m sure the issue of certification will receive a fair hearing.”

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