Threshold: Bedsit regulations will not increase homelessness
National housing charity Threshold has today dismissed speculation that new bedsit regulations will lead to an increase in homelessness.
Bob Jordan, Director of Threshold, said the new regulations will have a positive impact on the housing sector.
“What these regulations are doing is removing sub-standard accommodation, which often has not been modified or updated since the 1950s,” he said.
“These bedsits have remained in the same configuration since then. Their occupants have been forced to share bathrooms and cooking facilities and, in some cases, to even use outdoor toilets.
“This sort of outdated, sub-standard accommodation has no place in modern Ireland.”
Mr Jordan said Threshold does not expect the new regulations to place existing bed-sit tenants at an increased risk of homelessness.
“Threshold absolutely rejects recent media reports that the regulations will lead to an increase in homelessness,” he said.
“We receive over 20,000 queries from members of the public each year, but we haven’t noticed any surge in queries about the bedsit regulations since they were introduced or any concern amongst those who contact us that these regulations are placing them at risk of homelessness.
“Furthermore, in the five-year period between the 2006 and 2011 censuses, the number of bedsits fell by 50% as tenants found better-quality accommodation elsewhere and landlords faced up to the fact that sub-standard bedsits are not a viable housing option in the 21st Century.
“That 50% reduction didn’t lead to any discernible increase in homelessness.
“These changes have not come about overnight. Landlords were given four years’ advance notice to make the required improvements to their properties.
"Responsible landlords have clearly reacted and taken the necessary steps to ensure their properties comply. Unfortunately, there will always be a small minority of unscrupulous landlords who are willing to rent out sub-standard accommodation while making a sizeable profit.
“Threshold is determined that vulnerable tenants will no longer have to suffer at the hands of such landlords.”
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