LABOUR HOUSING BILL WOULD HAVE PROTECTED LIMERICK TENANTS’ RIGHTS

Limerick Labour TD and spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has condemned the move by another faceless vulture fund to evict more than 30 families from their apartments in the Strand Complex in Limerick.

Deputy O’Sullivan said:

“When I brought the Labour Party Housing Bill before the Dáil towards the end of last year, it specifically protected the rights of tenants if a landlord decided to sell the property, irrespective of the number of units involved in the sales process.

“The legislation approved by Government prior to Christmas specifically protected tenants where there are more than ten units planned for resale, which would in effect apply to the situation in the Strand complex.

“We cannot continue to countenance the situation whereby law abiding tenants who are paying their rent on a weekly or monthly basis can be thrown out of their homes simply because a vulture fund or landlord wants vacant possession prior to the sale of the property.

“The Labour Party Housing Bill, which was narrowly defeated in the Dáil, would have delivered through legislation the security of tenure that tenants deserve and which is in existence in other European countries, including our nearest neighbours in the UK.

“With a severe housing shortage throughout the country exacerbating the homeless crisis, the forced eviction of multiple families by these vulture funds is just not acceptable and must be resisted.

“The failure by the Minister for Housing & Local Government Simon Coveney to commence the legislation into law is I believe reprehensible, as these vulture funds are now capitalising on the vacuum that exists in terms of legislation protecting the rights of tenants.”