Laois landlords banned from renting homes

Laois County Council had to write to 80% of local private landlords and ban others following inspections which revealed that improvements had to be carried out in the properties rented to tenants in 2024.

New figures from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage reveal that of the hundreds of Laois homes inspected by the local authority, nine landlords were prohibited from reletting their properties until essential changes were made.

The figures also show that the number of inspections carried out in Portlaoise, Portarlington, Mountmellick and other parts of Laois dropped last year as compared to 2023 but has risen substantially in the past decade.

The Department says minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 and specify requirements about a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light, fire safety and the safety of gas, oil and electrical installations.

Laois County Council and other local authorities enforce regulations in the private rental sector and get ring-fenced State funding to deliver on their mandates.

Figures provided to the Leinster Express / Laois Live show that 871 inspections were carried out in 2024 in relation to 803 properties in Laois.

This gave rise to 641 improvement Letters issued to landlords for improvements to be carried out. Hundreds of landlords responded satisfactorily, but 12 improvement notices were served on landlords.

Prohibition notices were served on nine landlords which had the effect of preventing them for reletting due to the condition of their properties despite the appeals from the council to take action.

No legal proceedings were initiated by Laois County Council against any landlord over the state of their properties.

While the inspection rate rose nationally last year, the inspection rate in Laois dropped on 2023, when 850 dwellings were earmarked for 976. A total of 813 letters were sent to landlords, with 21 banned from renting until action was taken.

The current inspection rate contrasts to 2014 when just 134 Laois homes were the subject of 190 inspections. Only 28 dwellings inspected did not meet regulatory requirements but no landlord was banned from reletting.

Laois was behind neighbouring Offaly, where 929 homes caused 958 inspections in 2024. It issued 813 improvement letters to landlords. However, just one improvement notice was served, and no landlord was banned from letting.

The number of privately let homes in Laois is not revealed in the figures.

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The regulations apply to all properties let or available for let. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the standards set down in the Regulations.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, published the Laois figures on May 6 as part of a national release which showed that 80,150 inspections on private rental accommodation were carried out by local authorities during 2024. He said this represents a 26% increase on the 63,500 inspections conducted in 2023. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

County Hall Portlaoise. Pic: Leinster Express.

Overall, the number of inspections conducted has quadrupled in recent years. Inspection levels have increased from an average of 20,000 a year in the period 2005 to 2017 to over 49,000 in 2022, more than 63,500 in 2023, and an all-time-high of over 80,000 in 2024.

Minister Browne said: “Ensuring that private rented accommodation, regardless of what town, city or rural area you’re renting meets required standards is incredibly important. I want robust inspections to continue in earnest. We want to ensure that rental tenants are afforded standards which ensure requirements such as adequate heating, ventilation, sanitation, and fire safety measures are met. It’s the basics - and it is what renters should be able to expect from every landlord.

“I want to compliment the work of local authorities who have significantly increased their rates of inspections. It’s important that this work is done. We have provided increased funding of €10.5m for 2025 to further ramp up inspections and help achieve our ambitious inspection targets.

“This work will undoubtedly lead to quicker identification and rectification of substandard living conditions, ensuring properties meet the minimum legal requirements for health, safety, and general livability,” he said.

Inspections per local authority