Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Dessie Ellis TD, has welcomed an announcement by the Minister for Housing that she plans to introduce legislation to give certainty and security to tenants who are in homes going into receivership.

Deputy Ellis continued: "This is a positive step in protecting tenants from the property crash which they played no part in.

"I have raised this issue numerous times with the Minister including in a Topical Issue debate requested by myself in February.

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"The buy to let mortgage market swelled massively in the boom and has been hit hard in the collapse. Many landlords are struggling to keep up with their mortgage payments and too many have lost their properties to banks and lenders.

"This creates a serious problem for tenants who despite keeping up with their rent and responsibilities under their lease are then at the mercy of the receiver.

"The legislation is particularly needed in the wake of government moves to make repossessions easier for lenders. We cannot allow a situation where rental homes are being left idle at the whim of banks as rents go up and housing need is at an all-time high."

(CD/JP)