The national housing charity, Threshold is calling on the Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy TD to commencethe deposit protection scheme, provided for in Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015, following reports that a large private landlord is seeking two months’ deposit, along with the first month’s rent from new tenants.
Commenting, Threshold chair, Dr Aideen Hayden said: “The common practice regarding deposits is the equivalent of one month’s rent. However, there is no law in relation to this. This needs to be addressed to protect tenants.The previous coalition Government in 2011 committed to the introduction of a deposit protection scheme and passed enabling legislation in 2015. However, the relevant section has yet to be activated.
“Threshold is deeply committed to the introduction of a deposit protection scheme, in particular as the loss of a deposit can be a cause of homelessness where a tenant does not have the resources to provide a deposit for a new lease. We call on the Minister to triggerthe deposit protection scheme provisions of the Act as a priority and within that to stipulate that one month’s deposit is sufficient.”
Threshold wishes to acknowledge the funding support of the Scheme to Support National Organisations 2016-2019 and the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.
