ILLEGAL EVICTIONS, SEVERE overcrowding, landlords withholding deposits and unaffordable rent increases were some of the main issues dealt with by housing charity Threshold last year.

The charity launched its 2016 annual report today, revealing that it took over 71,000 calls from concerned people throughout the year – a significant increase on the previous year.

The charity is an advice and advocacy service that works mostly with renters to try to help them deal with landlords and help them stay in their homes.

Of the calls received last year, almost a third (29%) were in relation to situations where people were at risk of losing their homes.

Tenancy terminations and substandard accommodation (14% each of all calls) were the most common issues raised.

The third most common issue was people ringing looking for accommodation. Threshold said that this pointed to the reduced availability of places to rent.

A total of 37% of people who contacted the charity were in receipt of some form of social welfare payment, while 44% of callers were families with children.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Threshold chair Dr Aideen Hayden said that more protections were needed for tenants.

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“We are in a state of crisis and we are particularly in a state of crisis in relation to the rental sector,” said Hayden.

“Individuals and families find themselves in dire situations as competition for homes at the bottom end of the rented market has led to greater poverty and the emergence of overcrowding and falling standards,” she said.

Tenancy protection

One of Threshold’s key services is the tenancy protection service, which was expanded in 2016 as a result of the worsening housing crisis.

Threshold said that it helped over 3,900 callers through this service last year. It also said that 2,858 children were able to remain in their homes as a result of the TPS.

Also speaking at the launch Minister of State at the Department of Housing Damien English said that the government was working hard to alleviate housing issues and homelessness.

He said funding had increased to tackle housing issues, but that it would take time before the problem alleviated.

You can access the full Threshold annual report here

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