Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan O'Sullivan, TD, has secured Cabinet approval for progressive changes in the private rented sector.

The Cabinet approved the Minister's plans for a deposit protection scheme, which will see an independent operator holding and returning tenant deposits.

The Cabinet also gave the green light to plans for strengthened provisions against anti-social behaviour in the private rented sector. The changes will now be introduced at the Seanad Committee Stage of the Residential Tenancies Bill.

The Minister said: "Government approved my plans for a deposit protection scheme. Disputes over the return of deposits are one of the most significant sources of complaint in the private rented sector and this significant reform will introduce a workable, independent scheme that is fair to both tenants and landlords.

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"I intend to appoint an independent operator to hold and manage deposits. The scheme will be self-financing, covering operational costs through income earned on deposit holdings. This new deposit protection scheme will also be responsible for returning deposits to tenants and also operate a dispute resolution process where there is a dispute between the landlord and tenant."

The Minister also secured Cabinet approval for other Committee Stage amendments including enhanced provisions against anti-social behaviour. One amendment will make explicit the right of bodies such as a residents association or a neighbourhood watch group to bring complaints to the Private Residential Tenancies Board. Another amendment will remove the requirement for neighbours to raise issues of anti-social behaviour with tenants before taking further action. It will now be sufficient to try to resolve problems with the landlord, before bringing a case to the Private Residential Tenancies Board.

(CD/JP)