RTB must guarantee tenants will not be evicted for arrears

The Workers’ Party have called on planning authorities and the Residential Tenancies Board to issue a clear statement to tenants of Larkfield House apartment complex that they will not face eviction because of unpaid Housing Assistance Payments.
The call comes following revelations that the developer and owner of Larkfield House in Clondalkin had been refused planning permission for the apartments because they did not meet minimum standards.

David Gardiner, Workers’ Party representative for Palmerstown, said:
“Because Larkfield House is home to so many families in need of housing support payments, the state is faced with deciding whether to continue paying rent tens of thousands of euro each month to a developer who has completely ignored the planning process, or resisting, or, as things stand, allow the tenants to be evicted for rent arrears.

“Neither of these options is remotely acceptable. The Residential Tenancies Board should immediately reassure tenants that no arrears will be payable given the lack of proper planning for their homes, and that any attempts to evict them will not be upheld by the RTB.”

Gardiner continued that, as things stand, private landlords have all the cards:
“These situations are becoming far too common. The scandalous lack of decent public housing in this city means that the state is completely at the mercy of private landlords. When those landlords cut corners, ignore regulations, or raise the rent, the state has no option to go along with them.

“This cannot be allowed to continue. Abuses of planning and other regulations must be brought to an end – but not at the expense of tenants. We need clear legislation that sets out how the government can force landlords to carry out necessary improvement works without evicting tenants, and at the landlord’s own expense – including by taking landlords’ properties from them if necessary.”

Gardiner concluded:
“Ultimately, what will prevent situations like this is decent public housing, so the many families in Larkfield House are not forced into a cruel private housing market.”