A new report released today shows that almost half of all rental properties that were inspected in Donegal last year did not meet minimum standards.
The figures were released by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, detailing records of all private rental inspections in the state last year.
More rental properties than ever were subject to an inspection by a local authority last year, with 80,150 inspections carried out in 2024 versus 63.500 in 2023.
A total of 1,637 of these inspections were carried out in County Donegal.
Out of a total of 1,526 dwellings that were inspected, 715 of them were found to not meet regulatory requirements upon their first inspection.
The Department of Housing says that these 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.”
These regulations apply to all properties let or available for let, and all landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the standards set down in the regulations.
1,446 letters of improvement were issued to landlords in County Donegal, with a total of five improvement notices issued to landlords in the county.
Legal action was also enacted against five landlords in Donegal in 2024.
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