Two in three private rental properties in Cavan did not comply with regulations

Two in three private rental properties, inspected by agents from Cavan County Council in 2024, were found not to be complying with regulations last year.

Local authority staff carried out 405 inspections on 331 dwellings in 2024, according to figures published at the weekend.

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

In terms of the dwellings inspected in Cavan, 221 were found not be be meeting regulatory requirements at the first inspection.

Improvement notices issued to 24 landlords, while two prohibition notices followed. Issues were ultimately resolved with no legal action taken by the council against landlords.

The volume of inspections in the Breffni County was up dramatically (75%) on the previous year when 232 inspections took place.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, published the figures at the weekend. They showed that, nationally, 80,150 inspections on private rental accommodation were carried out by local authorities during 2024.

This represents a 26% increase on the 63,500 inspections conducted in 2023.

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.”

The Minister praised the work of local authorities, including Cavan, which 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 liveability.”

The minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 and specify requirements in relation to 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.