Slums in Dublin

A fascinating article from today’s Irish Indo 23/08.
The irony of this theory is that the new slums are exactly where the old ones were: Gardiner Street, Parnell Street and those types of area.

Apartment blocks in cities ‘may become the slums of the future’
IN TEN years from now, we may be clearing slums from our cities in the way we were forced to in the 1930s and ’40s.
Issuing a stark warning on the “slummification” of inner city areas, particularly in Dublin, national housing agency Threshold said it was becoming clear that many inner city apartment blocks were being let exclusively to rent supplement tenants, resulting in significant concentrations of poverty.
Launching the agency’s annual report, Threshold chair Aideen Hayden said while we had “rushed to the property boom like rats off a sinking ship”, this creation of inner city ghettos occupied by people on rent supplement did nothing to address people’s needs.
“Standards are needed to ensure that those living in apartments as a long-term housing solution have, for example, adequate storage for bikes; somewhere to dry clothes; play and study areas for children; and reasonable amounts of space.
“This is particularly so for the significant numbers of lone parents on rent supplement. Too few apartments are designed with the needs of children in mind,” Ms Hayden said.
“Unfortunately, while we are following the European model of apartment living, we are not following the standards of amenities that make communal living possible. If we do not address this issue as a matter of urgency, we face the prospect of the ‘slummification’ of our inner cities,” she said.
According to the report, the private rented sector now accounts for 11pc of housing in Ireland; is now larger than the social housing sector; and is set to grow.
However, despite the fact that the introduction of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 provided increased security for people renting accommodation, the report found that much private rented accommodation was of poor quality.
According to a Threshold survey, 17pc – nearly one-fifth – of private renters were not satisfied with the condition of their home. Last year, 386 families living in substandard housing came to Threshold, an increase of 36pc over 2003.
And the body says while it is clear many tenants live in unacceptable conditions, enforcement by local authorities of minimum standards regulation is unacceptably weak. Relying on Department of Environment statistics, the Threshold report pointed out that almost 30pc of all properties inspected by local authorities last year were deemed to be inadequate. While 2,106 out of 7,232 were found seriously wanting, legal action was only initiated in four cases.
“Local authorities need a stronger incentive to enforce the legal standards that are there. The Government has confirmed that rented accommodation will be used as long-term homes for people dependent on welfare.
“Current minimum standards are not enough. The standards applicable to the private rented sector need to be updated and strengthened,” the report states.
Deposit retention also continues to be a problem for Threshold’s clients. Last year, the agency’s advice workers dealt with 2,648 cases of deposit retention – 44pc more than in 2003.
“Inability to regain a deposit from the previous landlord increases the risk of homelessness, simply because those affected may not have other funds to put down for a new tenancy,” the report says.
The agency dealt with 271 illegal eviction problems last year, 41pc more than in 2002.
Meanwhile, the Union of Students of Ireland (USI) yesterday launched an information campaign aimed at students starting college who are looking for accommodation away from home. The USI is calling for a national agency to be set up to take over responsibility for monitoring the quality of rented accommodation.
The union called on Environment Minister Dick Roche to provide for frequent inspections of private rented accommodation as students were often unwilling to make a complaint, even though their accommodation might be substantially below par.
“Although the situation is improving, unscrupulous landlords – many of whom are not registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board – continue to exploit students, charging extortionate rent,” USI deputy president Ruth Ni Eidhin said.
The checklist for students on the hunt for accommodation is available on the USI website at http://www.usi.ie.
Kathy Donaghy