New Bill to Keep People in Their Homes Provides Common Sense Legal Solution to Ireland’s Repossessions Crisis – Independent Alliance

Bill puts most vulnerable people first say leading law experts

A significant new Bill aimed at keeping people in their homes has been introduced to the Dáil by the Independent Alliance.

According to Minister of State and Galway East TD, Deputy Sean Canney the Keeping People In Their Homes Bill 2017 provides protection to home owners facing possession and provides clarity to Irish courts on examining the proportionality of granting or executing possession orders on people’s homes.

Minister Canney says the legislation aims to change the way in which home possession cases are decided upon in the Courts.

The Bill allows courts to consider the circumstances and impact of home loss on dependents and children in the household, Minister Canney said. This means that courts can take into consideration the whole household’s circumstances and the impact that granting, adjourning, varying, postponing or executing an order for possession of a home would have on their lives.

“Where the mortgage has been taken over by another financial institution which is then seeking a repossession order, the court can consider the amount that was paid for the loan by reference to the amount of debt outstanding on the original loan,” said Minister Canney.

The Bill has been drafted with the support of a group of concerned lawyers and housing law experts who have been working with home-owners at risk of home loss.

“This Bill can immediately help bring clarity and full and fair legal process to a devastating situation being faced by families every day,” Minister Canney said. “It also provides a common sense and legal based solution that can help us meet the Independent Alliance’s commitment in the Programme of Partnership which states that we want to keep families in their homes and to avoid repossessions.”

The Bill represents the culmination of many months work and research, reflecting the Independent Alliance’s determination to address the issue of home repossessions.

“The loss of a home can be one of the most serious breaches of the right to respect for the home,” he continued. “Research shows that people who lose their homes are also at risk of a range of serious psychological difficulties, such as depression, frequent symptoms of psychological, social or somatic distress, feelings of painful loss, a continued longing and sense of helplessness.”

Some 30,000 households are at real and immediate risk of home loss in Ireland. This means that at least 100,000 people, including thousands of children, could be at risk of homelessness.

Dr. Padraic Kenna, Director of the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy at NUI Galway, said that the inspiration for this Bill comes from European consumer, human rights and family law. The Bill will provide Irish courts with a clear Irish statutory base to conduct a “proportionality assessment” in relation to possession orders.

“It seeks to humanise possession proceedings so that people and families who have no money, who have no choice, who have nowhere to go and who are facing the dire prospect of losing their family home, can be protected and supported,” Dr. Kenna said.

“Essentially, it means that when there is a choice between several appropriate measures to achieve the objectives legitimately pursued by legislation, then the court must adopt the least onerous one, and the disadvantages caused must not be disproportionate to the aims pursued.”

This Bill will enable Courts to consider the effect of the loss of a home on all the household members, in particular the impact on their physical and mental health. Courts will be able to examine any alternative arrangements that could prevent home loss; the effect of the loss of a home on children; or the availability of suitable alternative accommodation that will allow the household to live together. In addition, the Courts can consider the cost to the State of providing emergency accommodation and support services to the household in the event of home loss.

The Bill is an amendment to the existing Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009, which enables a lender to apply to the courts for an order of possession.

For more information contact:
Minister Sean Canney at 086-2513639