THE PRIVATE rental sector has a key role in fighting homelessness, the non-profit housing organisation Threshold said yesterday at the launch of its annual report.

It costs the state €29,000 a year to keep someone in emergency homeless accommodation and just €11,000 to keep them in a private rented home.

But substandard rented accommodation is a big issue and Threshold says that many landlords won’t carry out repairs because of the cost, when they themselves are struggling with debts. Landlords should use government incentives – for attic insulation, building upgrades and the like – to upgrade their accommodation, said Threshold chairperson Aideen Hayden (pictured above). Heating is one of the big problems which causes distress to clients – and grants are available to landlords.