Sir, - Having returned to Ireland from the UK just over two years with the aim of at least maintaining my quality of life in the Celtic Tiger economy, I write to tell you of the early Christmas present which I received from my landlord and thereby to highlight the plight of those in the private rented sector in Ireland.
Some months ago my landlord informed me (by a note under my door and without prior consultation) of his intention to raise the rent by about 12 per cent. This is, of course, his prerogative under Irish housing law. Having lived in the property for 18 months and over this time having brought several fairly serious defects to his attention, I took the opportunity to again highlight these matters - the most serious being a leak in the bathroom ceiling, via the light-bulb, through which several litres of water dripped during the recent heavy rains.
Being a landlord myself of a property in London, my (perhaps naive) assumption was that we were parties to a (verbal) contract and that we both had mutual responsibilities: broadly, I had to pay the rent and to maintain the property to a reasonable standard, and he had to maintain its structure to at least the legal minimum prescribed by housing legislation. However, as far as the landlord was concerned, the faults to the property were not significant enough to warrant any immediate action and the rent would be increased by 12 per cent. I remonstrated to no avail and agreed to pay the increase, but suggested that we take a second opinion and invite the Corporation's environmental health department to view the property. However, this was too much for my (retired garda) landlord to bear.
The following day my Christmas present arrived: a solicitor's letter requiring vacant possession of the flat without stating any reason. Again, this is the landlord's prerogative under Irish housing legislation. Environmental health officers have now formally visited the flat and confirmed that it does not comply with the provisions of the Housing Act, and in particular that the light in the bathroom, from which the rainwater drips, should not be used as it is a health hazard.
I now have to find other accommodation in Dublin, though, with a reasonably paid job, I am better placed than many others in my situation. From this, my first experience of Dublin landlords, it is clear that landlords abuse their favoured position under Irish housing legislation and charge exorbitant rents for substandard properties.
This tale sits in contrast to the self-congratulatory guff we hear from our politicians and see in the media about the success of the Irish economy and how we have become one of the wealthiest countries in Europe. We are no longer the EU's poor relation. However, as regards housing legislation and safeguarding the rights of the less well-off, Ireland is still far from the premier division. - Yours, etc.,
P. Young, Dublin 4.