Laois private rental inspections have tenants 'terrified'

Rental inspections in Laois have "the life and soul terrified out of tenants" afraid it will result in their eviction.

Laois County Council has been criticised for fulfilling its brief to carry out inspections of private rented accommodation.

The inspections can mean a list of upgrades requested of landlords, which Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said are so costly it can push landlords into selling and cause evictions.

"I'm not against landlords or tenants, but it's the only place where our figures are very good. Then we ask why are landlords leaving the market. I've been shown the most ridiculous things that landlords are told to change. All of this is in the middle of a crisis.

"I've one person, a landlord, who told me they are leaving because of this, the instructions she was given. The tenant had been happy," Cllr Fitzgerald said.

She spoke at the March meeting of Laois County Council where figures show that the council's housing inspection team has carried out 64 inspections in February, with 73 notices handed out of works to be done. In total this year there have been 149 rental properties inspected in Laois, and 152 works orders given.

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Director of Services for Housing Angela McEvoy addressed the concerns.

"We are given a target set by the Department. It is 25% of properties that we have to inspect. I take your frustration on board, we will speak to the department," she said.