Minimum Standards for Rental Accommodation

By law, landlords must ensure that their rented properties provide tenants with a safe and healthy environment to live in and comply with the Minimum Standards.

Minimum Standards for Private Rented Accommodation Housing Acts 1966 – 2015

Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019

Housing Standards and Inspections 

Meath County Council is dedicated to improving the living standards of tenants in private rented accommodation. This is done through an inspection of the private rented property in accordance with Government Regulations. However, if a tenant is experiencing an issue with their private rented accommodation, they should always report it to the landlord in the first instance. Tenants may then request a minimum standards inspection by emailing rtbinspections@meathcoco.ie. The Housing Inspection Team will endeavour to ensure timely inspections after a complaint is received.

 

Minimum Standards for Private Rented Accommodation

The main objective of the Housing Standards Regulations is to establish minimum standards in order to protect the health and wellbeing of tenants and to make private rented houses safe and fit for habitation.

Landlords are legally obliged to ensure that their private rented houses (which include a house, flat or an apartment) are maintained in good condition and repair and comply with the Regulations. Landlords failing to comply with their legal obligations in private rented houses are liable to be prosecuted, and on conviction, may be subject to a fine or imprisonment or both.

The following are covered in detail under the housing minimum standards legislation:

  • Structural Condition
  • Sanitary Facilities
  • Heating Facilities
  • Food Preparation and Storage and Laundry
  • Ventilation
  • Lighting
  • Fire Safety
  • Refuse
  • Electricity and Gas

Further information on legislation underpinning minimum standards is available below.

Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 

Home Ventilation Guide

Good ventilation improves indoor air quality and creates healthy homes. Moisture, harmful pollutants and viruses can get trapped in buildings and ventilation helps remove them. Good ventilation helps keep your home dry and helps protect health

Inspections of Private Rented Accommodation

In our role as a housing authority, Meath County Council are responsible for determining whether a property meets the Minimum Standards for rental accommodation. This is done through a Minimum Standards Inspection. Where a property does not comply, Meath County Council will engage with the Landlord to ensure works are complete. In order to obtain compliance, Improvement and Prohibition Notices and/or legal proceedings may be issued.

Landlords and tenants are required to allow the Housing Authority access to the property to undertake inspections.

Where it is not clear from an inspection that a rental property is in compliance with the Regulations, the Housing Authority may require the landlord to provide such evidence as is necessary to establish that they have complied with the requirements of the Regulations. This includes certificates for Gas (RGI), Oil Burner servicing and Periodic Inspection Report for electrical installation - see attachments below.

If you are a tenant and you believe your private rented property does not comply with minimum standards, you should discuss this with the landlord. If you and your landlord cannot resolve this informally, you should contact the RTB (Residential Tenancies Board) for more information on your rights and responsibilities. 

Enforcement of Housing Standards

Landlords are legally required to provide tenants with a property that provides a safe and healthy environment in which to live. The landlord should regularly review the condition of the property and carry out repairs where necessary. Landlords are responsible for the maintenance and repair of the dwelling, and the equipment provided with it, arising from the wear and tear associated with normal use. Local authorities are responsible for ensuring compliance of minimum standards and fire safety.

Where a property does not comply, Meath County Council can engage a series of sanctions against a landlord. Meath County Council may serve an Improvement Notice and/or a Prohibition Notice on a property.

An Improvement Notice sets out the works a landlord must carry out, within a set timeframe, to remedy any breach of the regulations. They are issued after failed inspections and they can be issued sooner if the works are extensive. 

Where an Improvement Notice is not complied with, Meath County Council may issue a Prohibition Notice, which directs a landlord not to re-let a property until the breach of the regulations has been rectified. Please see below list of properties currently on Prohibition Notice in County Meath.

 

Complaints

If you are occupying accommodation which you suspect is not meeting the relevant minimum standards, you should in the first instance, contact your Landlord in writing. Landlords must be given an opportunity to address the matter and complete any repairs. 

If you have notified your Landlord regarding the need for repairs and the problem has not been addressed and rectified, then you may choose to refer the issue to the Housing Inspections Team at Meath County Council. Complaints can be emailed to rtbinspections@meathcoco.ie or by calling 046-9097295 - see complaints form below.

Complaints cannot be dealt with when: 

  • They are anonymous.
  • The matter does not relate to housing standards.
  • There is insufficient information given to investigate.
  • Complaints lodged by third parties cannot be acted upon. Only complaints from the resident Tenant will be investigated. 

If it is the opinion of the Housing Inspections Team at Meath County Council that the complaint requires investigation, an appointment will be made to inspect the property and further action taken if warranted.

Inspection Request Form

Useful Links

Residential Tenancies Board

Tenant Rights and Responsibilities

Landlord Rights and Responsibilities

S.I. No. 137/2019 - Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019

Prohibition Notices

Prohibition Notices - Section 18B Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 (as amended)

*There are currently no properties on Probation Notice in Count Meath*

 

FAQ’s

Why is the property being inspected? 

All private rental properties are liable for inspection by the Local Authority to determine whether a property meets the standards for rental accommodation in accordance with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019.

 

How often do Inspections take place? 

Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) properties

Inspections are scheduled within 8 months of commencement of a new HAP tenancy. 

A re-inspection of the property will then occur every 6-8 weeks from the previous inspection until either the property passes (resulting in no further inspection required for a period of 4 years) or until a new tenancy starts.

All other rented residential properties 

Unlike HAP properties, all other rented residential properties are not required to be inspected within a set time period from the date of tenancy commencement. Properties will have their first inspection in due course and are revisited every 6-8 weeks until they are compliant. 

Properties that have passed the inspection are exempt from reinspection for a period of 4 years. If a new tenancy starts during this 4-year period, a new inspection will take place in due course.

 

Do I have to allow access to the property? 

Landlords and Tenants are required to allow the Housing Authority access to the property to undertake inspections. Failure to allow access will be deemed an obstruction.

 

Can I reschedule an Inspection? 

Where a Tenant is unavailable on a scheduled inspection date, they may wish to nominate a person (over 18 years of age) to allow the inspector access to the property. This person can be anyone of the Tenants choosing such as a relative, neighbour or friend.

We will do our best to reschedule inspections where adequate notice is given by the Tenant/ Landlord. Where notice of cancellation is not given the property will receive an automatic fail.

 

Does the Landlord need to be present for the Inspection? 

It is not mandatory for the Landlord to be present at an inspection, however, it is recommended that they be present as they can discuss and clarify, with the inspector, any faults that are found during the inspection.

 

What happens after the Inspection? 

The inspection report will be issued to both the Landlord and Tenant after the inspection is complete either via email or post.

Properties that fail an inspection will be re-inspected 6-8 weeks from previous inspection date. This allows the landlord time to rectify any fail points on the report.

Both Landlord and Tenant will be advised of any follow up inspection date via email / post if required.

 

The property received a fail in all sections with no explanation? 

Where the authorised officer does not gain access to the property on the day of inspection, the property will automatically fail the inspection.

 

How do I request an Inspection? 

If you have notified your Landlord regarding the need for repairs and the problem has not been addressed and rectified, then you may choose to refer the issue to the Housing Inspections Team at Meath County Council. 

To request an inspection please fill out the request form above and email to rtbinspections@meathcoco.ie or by calling 046-9097295

 

Disputes between Landlords and Tenants? 

The Housing Inspection team at Meath County Council does not have any remit in this area of Landlord / Tenant disputes and cannot facilitate mediation services. The Residential Tenancies Board can assist you with this. Please visit https://www.rtb.ie/ for more information.