Scheme aims to regulate landlords

Margaret Ritchie said the private rental sector needed to be overhauled

Lost deposits could be a thing of the past if a new plan to overhaul the private rental sector is adopted.

A new scheme under consultation would see an independent third party hold deposits. They would then decide on disputes, if they arose.

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said the private rented sector could be used to meet housing need.

"There are almost as many houses in the sector as the total managed by the Housing Executive," she said.

"There are landlords whose management of tenancies is poor, whose properties are not up to scratch and who don't always know, or comply, with the law.

"Thankfully these landlords are in the minority. We have put an enormous amount of work into devising the first ever comprehensive strategy for the sector and we now want to get the views of the public."

Some of the ideas being put out for consultation include a central scheme for tenants' deposits so that landlords cannot simply refuse to pay back deposits without good reason and a Government guarantee for vulnerable people who cannot afford a deposit.

Rights

The move has been welcomed by the Citizens Advice Bureau.

"At the minute we have some clients who have been given 24 hours to quit. That is illegal, but a lot of tenants, if they don't know their rights will just do what they are told," said Lucy Cochrane.

Fergus McAleavy, welfare officer with Queen's Students Union, has had problems with landlords in the past and said a new scheme could help a lot of cash-strapped students.

"The house was in a good state when we got it and it was in a good state when we gave it back," he said.

"It was very small things like paint cracking on the wall and things that are normally covered by the landlord himself.

"It would alleviate a lot of the problems with the small claims court, we have a lot of students who are reluctant to go that length. They'll simply think 'just take my deposit'."

One landlord voiced concern about how much it would cost to implement the proposals.

"Landlords don't hold deposits simply for flimsy reasons," said Declan Boyle.

"They are just some people, no matter what you did, or how quick you did it, it wouldn't be enough.

"I don't think we need the broad brush to stroke every landlord to comply. The vast majority of landlords are compliant, the attention must be put on the worst first."

The key proposals are -

• A central scheme for tenants' deposits so that landlords cannot simply refuse to pay back deposits for "flimsy reasons"

• Government deposit guarantee for vulnerable people who cannot afford them

• An independent body to manage disputes between landlords and tenants and encourage compliance with their tenancy agreement

• New fitness standards implemented by 2015. Landlords penalised if they do not meet these standards

• Much greater awareness of the rights of tenants and the responsibilities of landlords

• Longer periods of notice to quit for long term tenants.