Transcript Intensified Inspection Programme

INTENSIFIED INSPECTION PROGRAMME
PRIVATE RENTED HOUSING STANDARDS
Colm Smyth, Principal Environmental Health Officer
BACKGROUND
DCC recruited 6 Environmental Health Officers in 2012
AIM
To improve standards in the private rented housing sector
GOAL
To improve the quality of life for tenants in the private rented
sector
The overall enhancement of the City environment and
community
INSPECTIONS TARGETED & FOCUSED
 On pre ‘63 multi unit buildings
 On streets with buildings more likely to be noncompliant with housing standards legislation
 In areas of the city with high concentrations of this
type of property
 39 streets identified & inspected
IIP 2012 TO 2015 (MARCH)
– Dwellings Inspected
6360
– Non Compliant
5685
– Inspections
12668
– Enforcement Notices
6526
– Achieved Compliance
4160
– Prohibition Notices
240
– Legal Actions
103
EH TEAM
INSPECTIONS
 Reactive Inspections
Respond to Tenant Complaints
 Proactive Inspections
Proactively inspect rented properties
EH TEAM - 2015
o Dwellings Inspected
1,388
o Non Compliant
1,077
o Inspections
2,513
o Enforcement Notices
975
o Achieved Compliance
1,099
o Prohibition Notices
56
o Legal Actions
25
EH & IIP TEAMS 2012 TO 2015
o Dwellings Inspected
14,009
o Non Compliant
10,938
o Inspections
25,836
o Enforcement Notices
11,625
o Achieved Compliance
8,438
o Prohibition Notices
440
o Legal Actions
250
2015 Article Breakdown IIP & EH
Of the 2,379 enforcement notices served in 2015:
 43% contained requirements under Article 5 in
relation to structural conditions,
 8% contained requirements under Article 6 in
relation to sanitary facilities
 23% contained requirements under Article 7 in
relation to heating facilities
 25% contained requirements under Article 8 in
relation to food preparation & storage & laundry
2015 Article Breakdown IIP & EH
 31% contained requirements under Article 9 in
relation to ventilation
 4% contained requirements under Article 10 in
relation to lighting
 50% contained requirements under Article 11 in
relation to fire safety
 1% contained requirements under Article 12 in
relation to refuse facilities
 25% contained requirements under Article 13 in
relation to electricity & gas
DCC Corporate Plan
– Goal 2
“to increase the supply of social housing & improve existing
housing stock”
– Objective
“maintain the standard of private rented accommodation
through regular inspection”
Social Housing Strategy
– Pillar 2
 Housing Assistance Payments
Construction 2020
 Included a commitment “to develop a national policy
towards professionalising the private rented sector”
PRTB - REGISTERED TENANCIES
 Registered Tenancies
68,000
 Long Term Inspection >10 yrs
34,000
 Medium term Inspection 6-10yrs
17,000
 Short Term inspection <5 yrs
17,000
 Between 2012 – 2015
14,000
2016
 Continue to respond to tenant complaints
 Bring inspected properties into compliance
 Target properties more likely to be non compliant
 Mainstream IIP
 Prepare for the introduction of HAP
OUTCOMES 2012 – 2015
 8,438 rented properties now meet minimum standards
 Over 12,000 people now living in accommodation fit for purpose
 Suitable & safe accommodation for long term occupancy
 Properties are now a HOME to the tenants