- National housing charity prevents over 1,000 households from entering homelessness in last three months
- Threshold urges that Deposit Retention Scheme, for the private rental sector, is introduced by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage
National housing charity Threshold has released its Q3 Impact Report, with latest figures showing that half of all private renters who contacted the charity did so over terminations of their rental agreements. It also highlights ongoing problems that some tenants have getting their full deposits back from landlords. Threshold urges that a Deposit Retention Scheme – which already exists throughout the UK – is finally rolled out in Ireland to combat this problem.
Prevention of homelessness
In Q3 2024, Threshold supported 1,065 households to stay in their homes or secure alternative housing, preventing them from entering homelessness – up 17.5% year-on-year. This included 1,449 adults and 1,165 children supported. Of the new households who contacted Threshold in Q3, 1,759 were at risk of homelessness. As in previous quarters, most of these renters were at risk of homelessness because their landlord wished to sell their home. Where possible, Threshold assisted these households to remain in their homes or secure an alternative dwelling.
Overall, 9,360 households were supported by Threshold’s frontline advisors on issues regarding their tenancy during this period. Over half (51%) of the main queries in Q3 2024 related to tenancy terminations. Standards and repairs, along with rent reviews/rent increases were also among the top concerns raised by renters who contacted Threshold. These various issues amounted to just under 10,000 calls being answered by Threshold advisors.
Threshold CEO John-Mark McCafferty commented on the report, stating: “While we welcome what we believe is increased awareness among the public about Threshold’s services – and their rights as renters – it is still concerning to see the number of clients getting in touch about tenancy terminations. This shows an ongoing trend of more private landlords leaving the rental market than entering, reducing the options available to renters in Ireland. With ongoing costs also continuing to put pressure on renters, many renters cannot afford to lose their deposit. This is why Threshold is advocating for the implementation of a Deposit Protection Scheme, as seen in the UK.”
Deposit Retention Scheme
Threshold has been advocating for the protection of renters’ deposits through a Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS) since 2009. The solution would mean deposits are lodged with an independent third party, ensuring their prompt return at the end of a tenancy unless a genuine cost arises. Such a scheme would benefit all stakeholders, saving time and money for tenants and the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
In many cases, it would also benefit the landlord, as it would help them to avoid a potentially lengthy RTB dispute. Currently, there are services managing similar schemes in other jurisdictions, such as Northern Ireland and Scotland, and they have the expertise to offer this service in Ireland. The Government’s Housing for All housing plan includes a commitment to examine the creation of a system of deposit retention based on best international practice. Threshold asks that the Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage – who has received a report on the matter – to take the necessary steps to see a deposit protection scheme set up in Ireland.
Case study: Michael’s Experience
Michael had been living in his rented home for two and a half years. However, the home was not without its issues. “I moved in to be close to my son. I was willing to forgive the state of the house,” he said. On the surface, the house appeared in good condition, however the home was cold and difficult to heat:
“It was impossible to heat the house,” Michael said. It started with drafts. In addition to the drafts, the windows had poor seals, and the boiler for the back section of the home was broken. The home was so cold that during the gas and electricity cost spike of winter 2022, he spent over €3,500 just to heat his home for him and his son
“The onus is on the landlord and letting agent to maintain the property. Whenever I asked them to fix an issue, they never did. But after I moved out, they fixed these things from my deposit,” Michael said. He received a Notice of Termination to leave that house – and endured a stressful time trying to find a new place – but still had not received his deposit back seven weeks after moving out.
“It was only after attempting to get in contact with my letting agent for a month that I learned they retained €1,200 of the €1,800 to fix the long-standing issues in the home to make it ready to sell,” he said. With the support of Peter, Michael’s Threshold advisor, he objected to the amount of his deposit being retained and worked to get it back: “It was nearly 10 days of constant work. I should have been using that time on my job. It was an unnecessary stress in an already stressful time. It wasn’t until a threat of taking a dispute to the RTB that I got some money back.”
Threshold Advisor, Peter Munson, who worked on Michael’s case, noted that such a scheme in Ireland is overdue, stating: “The frustrating thing from my point of view as an advisor is the unnecessary nature of it all. The amount of work a tenant like Michael has to do, with all the calls and emails, is unnecessary. Before moving to Ireland in 2020, I lived in the UK and worked as a housing advisor there. Deposit Protection Schemes began in 2007 and quickly became an established practice with very few landlords I spoke with having issues with it. I was also a landlord for a period, and found the system fair and had no problem using it. I was surprised after moving to Ireland that there was no equivalent system.”
Threshold’s free helpline is open Monday to Friday, 9am – 9pm at 1800 454 454. Additional ways to get in touch including email, video call, and in-person meeting options are available at www.threshold.ie/get-help for any renters in need of advice or support.
