Water charges and landlords

Sir, – The Government proposes to use landlords as debt collectors by taking the water charges from the deposits of tenants ("New measures for water defaulters", May 6th).

Tenants in most cases do not have a deposit remaining when they leave. Some say they “use the deposit” for the last month’s rent; that is, of course, if they bother to tell the property owner that they are leaving.

If the Government wants landlords to act as debt collectors, then advertise the jobs and see who wishes to apply.

I, for one, will not. – Yours, etc,

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GERARDINE LYNCH,

Clare.

Sir, – The Government’s proposal that there will be a requirement for a “landlord to retain a tenant deposit until the tenant provides evidence that they have paid their water charges” is fraught with difficulty, totally unacceptable and unworkable. For example, who takes priority in situations where rent has not been paid or extensive damage has been caused? Data protection legislation may be a factor.

Furthermore, “there will be an obligation to confirm that water charges are paid before the completion of the sale of a dwelling to include a requirement to discharge arrears of water charges”. If a tenant has not paid their water charges, this should not affect the landlord selling the property as otherwise it is making a landlord responsible for utilities, which undermines the “user pays” principle.

The Government appears to have an agenda designed to undermine the private rental sector. Not content with a punitive tax treatment, including taxing a loss-making situation, it is now trying to force landlords to collect debts owed to third parties.

The State continues to undermine the landlord-tenant relationship. It is trying to force landlords to do its dirty work.

The State seems to consider tenants to be irresponsible and unreliable, otherwise it would leave Irish Water to collect its own charges, as is the case in the UK and other jurisdictions. These charges can be collected from tenants in the same way that they are proposed to be collected from homeowners.

Rent supplement is paid to tenants and can only be paid directly to a landlord if tenants request that this be done. The Minister for Social Protection has given tenants the choice as to whether they pay money given in respect of the cost of their accommodation to their landlord, but on the other hand it expects landlords to collect for water services. Why are tenants treated differently from every other citizen?

Forcing landlords to collect water charges is unfair, unacceptable and going to cause more difficulties for the sector. It puts unfair pressure on landlords and will put an unreasonable burden on the Private Residential Tenancies Board dealing with disputes.

A precedent may be set which will fundamentally change the landlord’s role in the utility situation.

A possible result of these plans will be that deposits will increase significantly and more landlords will leave the sector. All tenants will again suffer.

Currently, 30 per cent of landlords intend to exit the sector. These proposals have not been thought through by Government. It smacks more of rushing through ideas before the general election to give the impression that things are changing for the better in the private rental sector. Tinkering at the edges without any logical train of thought will not solve the fundamental problems which exist.– Yours, etc,

STEPHEN FAUGHNAN,

Irish Property

Owners’ Association,

Ashtown Business Centre,

Dublin 15.