merrion street

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Simon Coveney, T.D., today (13 January 2017) welcomed the withdrawal of termination notices served on residents of The Strand apartments, in Limerick City. The owners of the apartments involved are writing to residents affected by the recent termination notices to confirm that the notices are being withdrawn and that they will abide by the spirit of the so-called Tyrrelstown amendment which comes into effect next week.

That amendment to the Residential Tenancies Act was brought through the Oireachtas in December 2016 as part of the Government's rental strategy. The effect of the provision is to require that tenancies are protected where a landlord or investor wishes to sell more than 10 properties in a single development, as happened at Tyrrelstown, Dublin 15, last year.

The decision by the owners comes after contact from Minister Coveney in which he asked that the spirit of the Tyrrelstown amendment which does not take effect until next week, would be respected to ensure that the existing tenancies are unaffected by transfer of ownership. Sova Properties replied formally to the Minister to confirm that it would respect the change and that it would be writing to tenants to confirm withdrawal of the original notices.

Commenting this afternoon the Minister welcomed the decision by Sova as providing "an important reassurance for households who had been facing significant uncertainty. There was no legal requirement for Sova to take this approach so I commend them for doing what was the socially responsible thing by respecting the will of the Government and the Oireachtas. This shows the value already of some of the measures contained in the Government's strategy for the rental sector and the importance of a partnership approach by all players; tenants, accommodation providers and Government".

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