1. Security of tenure in the private rented sector in the Republic of Ireland
Aideen Hayden & Bob Jordan, Threshold
European Network for Housing Research (ENHR) Conference
‘Private Renting after the Crisis’
London School of Economics, England
19-20 March 2015

2. Outline History & evolution of security of tenure in Ireland
Definitions & typologies
Phases of rent control
New initiatives
Emerging issues and concerns

3. Tenure in Republic of Ireland
Source: CSO, Census of Population (various years)

4. Tenure in Ireland Tenure 2006 % 2011 Owner Occupied 1,091,945 74.7
1,149,924
69.7
Social Housing
155,989
10.7
143,975
8.7
Private Rented
145,317
9.9
305,377
18.5
Other
69,045
4.7
50,132
3.0
Total
1,462,296
100
1,649,408

5. Definitions of security of tenure
One of the ‘most critical issues’ affecting the landlord/tenant relationship (Kemp, 2005)
‘Ensuring continued occupation of a dwelling once access has been gained’ and ‘the security the occupant is afforded from eviction’ (O’Brien and Dillon, 1982)
‘The extent to which an interest in, or title to, property is certain or guaranteed’ (Australian National Housing Strategy, 1992)
‘Legal arrangements which offer tenants indefinite tenure of their housing, subject to proven breaches of their lease agreement that provide grounds for termination action by the landlord’ (Fitzpatrick and Pawson, 2011)

6. Security of tenure and rent control
Balancing of landlord and tenant interests (Kemp, 2004)
Security of tenure linked (and confused) with rent control
Security of tenure system is ‘to protect the tenant from unjustified eviction’ while rent control system ‘prevents the landlord from imposing exorbitant rent increases as a condition of renewing or continuing the tenancy and so from being able to effectively evict tenants’ ([Australian] Residential Tenancies Project, 1975)

7. Types of rent control
Three phases since beginning of 20th century (O’Sullivan and De Decker, 2007)
1st generation – rent freezes (WWI and WWII)
2nd generation – annual increases linked to costs and profitability for landlords (1970s)
3rd generation – regulation within tenancy rather than between tenancies (1990s)
2nd and 3rd generation influenced by introduction of rent allowances and housing benefits (Turner and Elsinga, 2005)

8. Phase 1 – Tenant Favourable Protections (1914-1982)
Rent restricted to standard rent in 1914
Increases limited to % of rates increase or costs from structural improvement
Landlord’s right to recover property limited
Extended continuously until 1960
1960 Act divided dwellings into controlled and uncontrolled dwellings

9. Controlled and Uncontrolled
Rent control over mainly unfurnished property where tenants benefited from low rents and protection from eviction
Most tenancies were uncontrolled, based on periodic tenancies, and could be terminated without reason or justification.
Actual or threatened eviction most common tenant problem.

10. Rent control and decline of PRS
Size of PRS declined from 26% after WWII to
10% in 1979
Rent control was a ‘significant, but not overwhelming’ factor (O’Brien and Dillon, 1982)
Other factors were slum clearance, homeownership policies and rising incomes
Rent control contributed to 75% decline in controlled dwellings between 1946 and 1971.

11. Phase 2 – Landlord Favourable Protections (1982-2000)
Rent control mechanism struck down by Supreme Court in 1982
‘Unjust attack’ on landlords’ property rights in Blake v Attorney General [1982]
Legislation introduced to phase out formerly controlled sector by 2002
Rent Tribunal established to fix terms and rents review every 4 years and 9 months
Formerly rent controlled sector now ended

12. Limited Regulatory Reforms
Security of tenure was not revisited for a decade
Under 1992 Act, minimum notice period of 28 days, rent book requirement, registration of landlord with local authorities and some regulation of standards
Enforcement unrealistic in the absence of security of tenure as many tenants feared retaliation (Galligan, 2005)

13. Growth of PRS Reasons for growth of PRS
1. Ireland’s ‘Celtic Tiger’ economy
Dublin labour force grew by 150,000 in a decade
Population grew by 17% between
House price inflation and affordability
2. Increased State reliance on PRS
Sale of social housing in 1980s and 1990s
39,000 on rent supplement scheme by 1996
Security of tenure a concern for almost two-thirds of RS recipients (Guerin, 1999)

14. Phase 3 – Balancing of landlord and tenant protections (2000 - present)
Commission on the Private Rented Residential Sector (1999) involved broad range of stakeholders
Security of tenure of up to 4 years, with provisions after 6 months that landlord must give one of six valid reasons for termination
Notice periods are based on duration of tenancy; written lease is somewhat redundant
Rent certainty model rejected in favour of open market rents that can only be reviewed annually
‘A compromise’ between landlord and tenant interests (Commission report, 2000)

15. Minimum Notice Periods under RTA
Duration of Tenancy
Notice by Landlord
Notice by Tenant
Less than 6 months
28 days
6 months or more but less than 1 year
35 days
1 year or more but less than 2 years
42 days
2 years or more but less than 3 years
56 days
3 years or more but less than 4 years
84 days
4 or more years
112 days
Termination for breach of obligations
Termination for anti-social behaviour
7 days

16. Housing schemes based on RTA
1. Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS)
Long term RS recipients 18 months +
Greater security than law, by written agreement
Local authority pays landlord directly
Differential rent paid by tenant to local authority
Differs from RS scheme, where tenant must pass on welfare payment and pay a contribution as well
‘Hybrid’ of social housing and private rented
30,500 private transfers between

17. Housing schemes based on RTA
2. Social Housing Leasing Initiative (SHLI)
Long term leasing for years
Discounted market rent and local authority or housing association covers management and maintenance
Similar to RAS, legal obligation to rehouse tenant
Limited take-up of 4,600 units since 2009
Longer agreement and rent levels at lowest level for some time
Upper limit to security of tenure?

18. Housing schemes based on RTA
3. Housing Assistance Payment (HAP)
Like RAS, RS recipients of 18 months +
Like RAS, local authority pays landlord directly
Like RAS, tenant will have access to wider social housing options
Unlike RAS, tenant contribution deducted at source
Addresses rent arrears issue that exists under RAS and affects eligibility to other social housing options
Currently being piloted in 7 local authority areas

19. Security of tenure after RTA
Security of tenure not main problem faced by tenants
Deposit retention (tenants) and rent arrears (landlords) are the main sources of dispute to PRTB, representing about 70% of all disputes
But economic downturn has impacted
Rise in illegal evictions from 3-5% over to
8-9% in
Rent arrears increasing from 19% in 2007 to 35% in 2012

21. Rent levels and affordability
Three current difficulties that impact on security of tenure
Overall reduction in supply
Housing output has fallen by 90% since 2006
Properties to rent in Dublin down by 40% since 2011
Rent reviews and higher asking rents
Annual rent inflation from 2.2% in 2012 to 9.7% in 2014
Dublin rent inflation peaked at 16.7% in April 2014, now spreading to commuter counties
Reviews of rent more common after period of stability
Reductions in welfare payments
Reductions of up to one-third since 2009
Displacement of tenants and rise in family homelessness

22. Shortage of properties to rent
Data and chart: daft.ie

23. ‘Rent Stability in the Private Rented Sector’ Report (September 2014)
Escalation of rents and rising family homelessness
Rents unaffordable, especially for single people on average income in Dublin (41% of net income using PRTB/CSO data)
Report rules out rent regulation due to potential negative impacts on supply (evidence?)
Report recommends other measures:
better market information, extending rent review period, raising rent supplement limits, tax incentives for landlords/supply, voluntary rent certainty leases (impact?)
Minister for the Environment initially opposed to ‘rent control’ but now committed to ‘rent certainty’.

24. Rent certainty
“I am not talking about rent controls. It’s a different model, this is rent certainty… What we’re looking at is a process whereby people can have some certainty as regards rent into the future while [housing] supply is being dealt with.” (Minister Alan Kelly, 28 February 2015) “It’s understood the proposals would involve landlords not being able to increase rent beyond the rise in the consumer price index unless they can show that upgrades have been carried out on a rental property that would justify an above inflation rent increase.” (thejournal.ie, 28 February 2015)

25. Rent Control vs. Rent Certainty
[Blake v Attorney General]
Rent Certainty
Permanent freeze on rents at historic levels.
No effective mechanism for recovery of possession or review of rent.
Basis of scheme arbitrary, unfair, irrational.
Regulate rate of rent increases for defined period (e.g. duration of tenancy) only.
RTA mechanisms for recovery of property and 12-month review period unaffected.
Model connected to pressing social need and based on objective criteria (e.g. CPI index).

26. Conclusions
Distinct phases in evolution of security of tenure in Ireland that mirror typologies of rent control
Balance of interests sought in 3rd phase framework
Underpinned new schemes to prolong and deepen security of tenure
Security of tenure is inextricably linked with rents
Rising rents posing a new challenge to security after of tenure a decade of 3rd generation rent controls
Rent regulation under consideration