O'Dowd calls for tighter landlord regulations

The Sinn Fein member said, “We are facing a serious housing crisis and the lack of social housing is being filled by the private rented sector.

“While the majority of landlords adopt a responsible attitude to their business, a small minority of unscrupulous landlords charge extortionate rents, provide substandard and even dangerous accommodation and take no account of, or responsibility for, their tenants.

“The private housing sector is for the most part, unregulated and I am disappointed that the Department of Social Development appear to rule out mandatory legislation in its consultation paper on the issue.

Mr O’Dowd said “Voluntary accreditation, as endorsed by the DSD, will result in a register of good landlords who were never a problem to begin with.

“The mandatory registration of landlords on the other hand would help eradicate some of the anti-social problems that afflict many of our housing estates and will provide vital protections for vulnerable tenants.”