Fianna Fail Housing Minister, Darragh O’Brien, told Newstalk that “It will be illegal from next week to ask for more than the equivalent of two months’ rent by way of a deposit – and one of those months is an advance payment. So effectively it’s one month’s rent and one month’s deposit.”
Deputy O’Brien said “We will prosecute people who breach that – it’s as simple as that.”
The Fianna Fail Minister did not outline how this new legislation would be monitored for compliance or who would police it.
The new law limiting tenant deposits to landlords was introduced to stop unscrupulous landlords asking for large deposits during this time of unprecedented high rental costs in Ireland.
Most landlords ask for bank statements and other documentation covered under GDPR laws however many are not registered with the Data Protection Commission and are in breach of GDPR. If a tenant refuses to give this personal information, they will simply not be offered the accommodation.
Is it time for Ireland to have an independent tenant protection agency?
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.