Slum conditions show need for better supports for tenants – Ellis

Sinn Féin housing spokesperson, Dessie Ellis TD, has described as “damning but not surprising” reports that nearly 90% of flats reviewed by Dublin City Council in the last six months do not meet basic standards.
He made his comments following the release of figures by the council from their current intensified inspection campaign which found 1,384 out of 1,499 failed the test.
Deputy Ellis continued:
“To anyone working with people on low incomes this is no surprise. I see people everyday living in very poor conditions and I am constantly raising issues with the authorities from DCC and the Department of Environment.
“A walk around the older parts of the city will enlighten anyone. There are blocks of very old buildings with often five to eight buzzers on the doors.
“These are Dublin’s modern slums which have long been outside of acceptable standards and turning great profit for landlords.
“Inspections like this must continue and problems identified and dealt with. The unfortunate reality is though that Dublin has a housing shortage. The state is not building enough social housing and demand is already at an all-time high.
“The government need to get serious about providing decent housing for people who otherwise will fall to the prey of slumlords. It must also properly fund the Tenancies Board which has had to cut staff numbers and outsources it services in recent times with absolutely no government grant for its vital work. If this is not done then conditions will only worsen.”

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Tenant evictions due to repossessions must be avoided – Ellis

Sinn Fein spokesperson on Housing Dessie Ellis TD has called on the Minister to work to develop a binding code of conduct to avoid rental tenants be evicted in the event of repossessions. He made his comments during a debate requested by him in the Dáil today.

Deputy Ellis continued:
“Across the state and especially in Dublin we are facing a crisis within a crisis. This is the problem of landlords who are not paying their mortgages and in doing so are jeopardising the housing of potentially thousands of people.

“In the last few weeks I have personally dealt with five families in Dublin who are facing eviction due to the repossession of their rented homes. The lenders want to sell and wash their hands of the property, in some cases forcing the landlord to evict the families before they take over.

“I spoke to Emma, a mother of two from Drimnagh: 13 years on waiting lists afraid to leave her home to go to speak to the council because she might come home to find that she has been evicted.

“The long term solution is to provide sustainable public housing which is not endangered by the whims of the market, lenders or profit driven landlords. The more immediate solution is to force lenders to enter into a code of conduct in relation to tenants, especially those with an assessed social housing need who are particularly at risk of homelessness in the event of eviction.

“Banks need to honour tenancy agreements in conjunction with a strategy from Local Authorities to ensure that no tenant is left homeless. As we face increased repossessions due to government policy this will only become worse if nothing is done.”